Product Lifecycle Program Manager (hybrid) - 2020746

Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 163,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Product Lifecycle Program Manager (PLPM) in a hybrid role to lead global cost management and end-to-end product lifecycle from inception to EOL.

This senior role requires influencing Manufacturing, Engineering, Marketing, and Executive Leadership to align strategy and execution across a portfolio of complex solutions. You will define frameworks for operational efficiency, market competitiveness, and cross-functional governance across Cisco’s global

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Supply Chain management within the high-tech sector.
• Proven track record in complex Program Management and executive-level stakeholder management.
• Deep expertise in supply chain dynamics, product costing, and margin analysis.
• Advanced knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and sustaining product support.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Cost Management & Lifecycle Oversight: drive end-to-end product lifecycle strategy and cost management from launch to EOL.
• Engineering Change Governance: oversee Engineering Change Management for smooth transitions.
• Product Quality & Financial Stewardship: ensure product quality benchmarks and cost targets.
• Complex Problem Resolution: lead mitigation of sustaining issues and CAP account management.
• EOL Strategy & Orchestration: develop and execute holistic EOL strategies with cross-functional teams.
• Enterprise Risk Management: lead multi-source tech evaluation, cost variance mitigation, and supply chain reviews.
• Field Performance & Margin Optimization: drive improvements in gross margins.

Skills

Strategic Cost Management

Lifecycle Oversight

Engineering Change Governance

Product Quality

Financial Stewardship

Problem Resolution

EOL Strategy

Risk Management

Margin Optimization

Cross-functional Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management

Master’s degree in Engineering or MBA

Tools

PLM software

MS Excel

Agile methodologies

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 08/28/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Product Lifecycle Program Manager (hybrid) - 2020746

*hybrid role requires work activity on site a few days each week, specific days TBD

Meet the Team

Our team is a high-performing, collaborative collective united by a mandate for innovation and operational excellence. We cultivate a culture rooted in strategic transparency, intellectual rigor, and continuous professional evolution, where diverse perspectives are leveraged to drive complex problem-solving. Our mission—Think Really Big, Play to Win, Drive Durable Growth—serves as the foundation for everything we do. We offer a sophisticated environment designed for leaders who are committed to challenging the status quo, championing disruptive ideas, and delivering high-impact, scalable results. Joining this team means contributing to a meaningful legacy where individual leadership directly influences our collective success.

Your Impact

We are seeking a seasoned Product Lifecycle Program Manager (PLPM) to provide strategic leadership over global cost management and the end-to-end product lifecycle from inception to End-of-Life (EOL). This is a high-visibility, senior-level role that requires the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders—including Manufacturing, Engineering, Marketing, and Executive Leadership—to align on strategy and execution for a portfolio of complex product solutions. You will be responsible for defining and implementing the frameworks that ensure operational efficiency and market competitiveness across our global manufacturing footprint.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Cost Management & Lifecycle Oversight:Serve as the primary architect for end-to-end product lifecycle strategy, driving rigorous cost management protocols from launch through EOL to ensure sustained profitability.
• Engineering Change Governance:Provide authoritative oversight for Engineering Change Management, ensuring seamless technical transitions and minimal operational disruption.
• Product Quality & Financial Stewardship:Maintain stringent control over product quality benchmarks and cost structures, ensuring alignment with organizational financial targets.
• Complex Problem Resolution:Lead the mitigation of critical sustaining issues, including line-stop resolutions, CAP account management, AVL optimization, and continuous manufacturing process improvement.
• EOL Strategy & Orchestration:Direct the development and execution of holistic EOL strategies, partnering with integrated product teams to ensure smooth sunsetting of legacy solutions.
• Enterprise Risk Management:Oversee proactive risk assessment, including multi-source technology evaluation, component-level analysis, cost variance mitigation, and comprehensive supply chain reviews throughout the lifecycle.
• Field Performance & Margin Optimization:Lead strategic action planning for product field performance and spearhead initiatives to drive continuous improvement in gross margins.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Supply Chain management within the high-tech sector.
• Proven track record in complex Program Management and executive-level stakeholder management.
• Deep expertise in supply chain dynamics, specifically within high-tech environments, product costing, and sophisticated margin analysis.
• Advanced knowledge of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and sustaining product support

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering or Supply Chain Management and/or MBA
• Knowledge of New Product Introduction (NPI) processes.
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt certification.
• High proficiency in Agile methodologies and advanced MSFT tools.
• Extensive experience in the high-tech electronics industry and large-scale electronics manufacturing.
• Exceptional executive communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

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 $162,500.00 to $205,400.00 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:

$162,500.00 - $236,200.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$144,100.00 - $214,500.00

* 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.