Principal Engineer - AI

Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Francisco, California, City of Albany (CA, MO, NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Principal Engineer in the AI Software & Platform Team, where you will lead the development of innovative AI solutions that enhance security resilience for businesses globally. This role offers the opportunity to design and implement cutting-edge AI systems, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and mentor early-career engineers. With a focus on ethical AI use and continuous learning, you will contribute to shaping the future of technology while fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. If you are passionate about AI and eager to drive innovation, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Learning and development opportunities

Employee resource groups

Paid volunteer time

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in AI and product development.
• Strong leadership skills with a focus on mentoring teams.
• Proven track record in AI architectures and machine learning.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI strategy and shape technical vision.
• Design and develop advanced AI systems.
• Mentor AI engineers and promote best practices.

Skills

AI architectures

Machine Learning

Deep Learning

Python

Java

C++

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)

Education

PhD in Computer Science

MS in AI or Machine Learning

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud

Job description

Meet the Team

The AI Software & Platform Team delivers AI products to help businesses worldwide defend against threats and safeguard their critical assets, focusing on security resilience. We are passionate about making businesses secure and simplifying security with zero compromise.

Your Impact

As a Principal Engineer within the Cisco AI Software and Platform team, you will lead research and development in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning. You will be crucial in designing, implementing, and evolving our AI Assistant and Studio products, driving innovation and maintaining our market edge. We seek a passionate, hands-on AI Principal Engineer to take ideas from concept to prototypes and from prototypes to products. You will be an integral part of the AI team, leading the ideation, design, development, and testing of new products. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in AI, with strong technological expertise, industry recognition (such as patents, publications, open-source contributions), and excellent communication skills to articulate complex solutions simply. This role is vital for our team and new ventures.

What You Will Do

1. Lead with technical and industry vision, shaping our AI strategy.
2. Design and develop advanced AI systems to address key business challenges.
3. Define AI solutions, assess technical feasibility, and estimate efforts and risks.
4. Drive prototypes and MVP development to deliver innovative, maintainable, and scalable features.
5. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet strategic objectives.
6. Mentor AI engineers, fostering technical excellence and continuous learning.
7. Stay updated with AI and machine learning advancements and assess their impact.
8. Promote best practices in coding, testing, documentation, and maintainability.
9. Build scalable infrastructure for machine learning models from development to deployment and monitoring.
10. Ensure ethical AI use, emphasizing fairness, privacy, security, and transparency.
11. Communicate complex AI concepts to non-technical audiences and provide thought leadership.
12. Contribute to intellectual property development through patents, publications, and presentations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years experience as a Principal Engineer or Senior Technical Leader.
• Deep knowledge of AI architectures, LLMs, and Reinforcement Learning.
• Proven experience leading AI product/system development in Networking/Security.
• Proficiency in Python, Java, or C++, and familiarity with frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and ML deployment strategies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent leadership and communication abilities, capable of mentoring teams.
• Ability to mentor early-career engineers and stay abreast of cutting-edge technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

A PhD or MS in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, Mathematics, Data Science, or related fields, or equivalent experience.

#WeAreCisco — where every individual brings unique skills to power an inclusive future. We celebrate diversity, foster belonging, and support learning and development at every stage. Our culture pioneered hybrid work, enabling all to excel and be their best. We believe in community and giving back, with initiatives like employee resource groups and paid volunteer time. Our purpose is to lead in technology that powers the internet, helping customers reimagine applications, secure enterprises, transform infrastructure, and meet sustainability goals. Join us and be yourself!