Engineering Program Manager

Static Cisco; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 172,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc is seeking an experienced Enterprise Networking Program Manager in Milpitas, CA to lead cross-functional, high-impact initiatives from concept to customer delivery.

You will manage complex programs with Waterfall/Agile/Hybrid, leverage Jira/Confluence, and apply AI-driven automation to improve workflows.

This role emphasizes budgets, schedules, stakeholder alignment, and communicating strategic roadmaps to executives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years in engineering program management in networking.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional programs using Waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid methods.
• Knowledge of Catalyst 9k devices and Network Controller on Prem/Cloud.
• Ability to build dashboards and automations with OpenAI Codex.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale networking programs across engineering, product, and operations.
• Balance budgets, resources, and critical path schedules.
• Present program status and insights to executive leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement through data-driven metrics.

Skills

Program management

Networking domain

Waterfall/Agile/Hybrid

Jira/Confluence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Jira

Confluence

OpenAI Codex

Job description

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

Meet the Team

Our 10-member program management team serves as the strategic engine for Cisco’s Enterprise Networking business. We drive high-impact technical initiatives across the full stack—from embedded systems to cloud with a core focus on integrating security and leveraging AI to simplify network operations. By championing innovation and applying modern, AI-driven processes, we bridge the gap between initial concept and successful customer delivery.

Your impact

We empower the organization by leading high-stakes, large-scale programs that require managing complex cross-functional interdependencies. We champion operational excellence by implementing best practices that optimize workflows and foster a culture of continuous technical improvement. By leveraging data-driven metrics to track performance, we enable precise course corrections and ensure efficient project execution. We maintain rigorous control over budgets, resources, and critical path schedules to enhance the value of our organizational assets. Finally, we drive strategic alignment by presenting program achievements and actionable recommendations to executive leadership to guide key business decisions.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelors + 8 years of experience as an engineering program manager in the networking domain or related, or Masters + 6 years of related experience.
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional programs using Waterfall, Agile and Hybrid methodologies described in the Cisco Product Development Methodology and Atlassian (Jira and Confluence) tools.
• Experience in the Networking domain, both Network Device (Catalyst 9k and Cisco 9k products) as well as Network Controller both On Prem (Catalyst Center) and Cloud (Cisco Switching Cloud and Cisco Cloud Control).
• Knowledge of AI tools and ability to demonstrate hands-on skills to build Dashboards and Automations using OpenAI Codex.

Preferred qualifications

• Ability to mentor and coach other program managers or cross-functional team members to drive professional growth.
• Expertise in building and maintaining relationships with senior-level stakeholders across global business units.
• Experience developing and implementing CI/CD strategies or quality assurance tools to streamline development lifecycles.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to present complex technical roadmaps to non-technical executives.
• History of identifying, documenting, and resolving systemic project roadblocks to enhance future operational efficiency.

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 $171,600.00 to $245,000.00 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 of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to 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:

$171,600.00 - $281,800.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$151,300.00 - $250,900.00

* 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.