Distinguished AI Engineer (Hybrid)

Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 343,000 - 433,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Distinguished Engineer in AI/ML to lead high-priority AI initiatives across our product portfolio. You will partner with ML Scientists, ML Engineers and Product Managers to shape architecture, deliver models, and ensure timely delivery of AI capabilities.

This hybrid role combines onsite collaboration with remote work, with flexibility coordinated with the team and manager. Mentorship, roadmap leadership, and cross-functional influence are key aspects of the role.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge and track record in AI/ML tech including deep learning, time series, NLP, and unsupervised learning.
• Proven expertise in Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLM).
• Experience leading AI product development at scale and deploying large-scale models in production.
• Experience with large-scale data processing, parallel computing (GPU, multi-GPU, distributed training).
• Ability to build internal/external partnerships and translate research into business solutions.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the AI/ML technical vision and strategy across the product portfolio.
• Shape the AI technology roadmap with modern innovations for best-in-class solutions.
• Collaborate with leadership to drive awareness and accelerate AI adoption.
• Influence cross-functional collaborators across the enterprise at all levels.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to teams and promote engineering excellence.
• Partner with technical leaders to ensure delivery of AI/ML models and service integration.
• Identify and mitigate risks at the intersection of business needs and engineering.

Skills

AI/ML knowledge

Generative AI

LLMs

Leadership

Production systems

GPU/Distributed training

Partnerships

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree + 17 years experience

Master's degree + 14 years experience

PhD + 10 years experience

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 11/12/2026

This position is a hybrid role, requiring the employee to work both onsite and remotely. Candidates should be comfortable with a flexible work arrangement that balances in-office collaboration and remote work. Specific onsite days and remote days will be coordinated with the team and manager.

Meet the Team

Artificial Intelligence is a foundational pillar in the product strategy for Splunk and Cisco, and we are building best-in-class AI capabilities into our platform, security and observability products to help our customers to accelerate their journey to digital resilience. We are looking for a Distinguished Engineer with outstanding technical leadership in the AI/ML area to drive our high-priority AI initiatives with a clear technology roadmap to deliver innovations across our product portfolio. This role will partner closely with ML Scientists, ML Engineers and Product Managers, and provide technical guidance to the cross-functional teams throughout the product development life cycle, from critical thinking and architecture design to implementation, execution and holding the teams accountable for delivery goals.

Your Impact

• Define and evolve the technical vision and strategy for AI/ML capabilities across our product portfolio!
• Shape and drive our AI technology roadmap with modern innovations to deliver best-in-class AI solutions to our customers!
• Work with the leadership team to build awareness and alignment to accelerate the rollout and adoption of AI technologies.
• Effectively connect with and influence key collaborators across the enterprise, at all levels of the organization.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to the cross-functional team and promote a culture of engineering excellence.
• Collaborate with fellow technical leaders to ensure the successful and timely delivery of AI/ML models and service integration.
• Identify and mitigate risks in our plans and executions, especially at the intersection of business and engineering.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors + 17 years of related experience, or Masters + 14 years of related experience, or PhD + 10 years of related experience
• In-depth knowledge and consistent track record in AI/ML technology, including deep learning, time series modeling, natural language processing, and unsupervised learning.
• In-depth knowledge and proven track record in Generative AI technology and Large Language Models (LLM).
• Demonstrated experience in leading impactful AI product development at scale.
• Demonstrated experience in developing large-scale, complex models and deploying them in production systems.
• Demonstrated experience in large-scale data processing and parallel computing - GPU, multi-GPU and distributed training.
• Demonstrated experience in building strong internal and external partnerships.
• Commitment to staying up-to-date with the field and applying academic advances to solve complex business problems, and bringing them into production.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to translate research insights into practical solutions that address real-world challenges.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in mentoring and guiding junior researchers or team members.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the Cybersecurity and/or Observability industry is preferred.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $342,700.00 to $433,400.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco's plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco's policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

• 1 paid day off for employee's birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco's flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto the next

• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members

• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco's policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$342,700.00 - $498,400.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$304,900.00 - $443,500.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco's sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.