Hybrid Lead AI Researcher: Foundation Models for Networking

Cisco Systems, Inc.; Milpitas (CA); Hybrid; USD 216,000 - 281,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Lead AI Researcher to architect Cisco’s proprietary intelligence and steer end-to-end pre-training initiatives for foundation models at massive scale.

You will shape models tailored to Cisco’s networking, security, and observability needs, collaborating with engineers and strategists to translate research into practical solutions. The role emphasizes publishing in top AI venues, driving cross-functional impact, and advancing research that defines the future of

Qualifications

• Experience leading or contributing to a full-cycle pre-training or distillation project for an LLM.
• Proven ability to publish in top-tier AI venues (ACL, EMNLP, NeurIPS, ICML, NAACL).
• Hands-on experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow on large GPU clusters (100+ GPUs).
• Background in networking, data center, security, or observability domains.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of purpose-built large language models for Cisco’s networking, security, data center, and observability infrastructure.
• Drive advanced pre-training initiatives to build foundational models with unique value across Cisco’s product portfolio.
• Conduct innovative research in generative AI to improve model capabilities for networking automation and human-computer interaction.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate research breakthroughs into tangible business solutions.
• Publish research in top-tier AI venues and contribute to the broader scientific community.

Skills

LLM pre-training

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Distributed training

Networking data science

Education

PhD in STEM or related field with 5+ years

Master’s degree in STEM with 8+ years

Bachelor’s degree in STEM with 12+ years

Job description

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Lead AI Researcher to architect Cisco’s proprietary intelligence and steer end-to-end pre-training initiatives for foundation models at massive scale.

You will shape models tailored to Cisco’s networking, security, and observability needs, collaborating with engineers and strategists to translate research into practical solutions. The role emphasizes publishing in top AI venues, driving cross-functional impact, and advancing research that defines the future of