Senior Director - Engineering Project and Program Management (Security Business Group)

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 285,000 - 391,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Stock grants

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Senior Director of Engineering Program Management to lead cross-functional teams across Unified Network Access and Network Security.

You will drive strategy, execution, and delivery of multiple concurrent engineering initiatives, ensuring alignment with business goals and high-quality, scalable results. You will set the vision for program management, establish metrics, and mentor a growing PMO, embracing Agile, Lean, and AI-native approaches to mitigate risks and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent industry experience driving large complex TPM organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead a high-performing program management organization for multiple engineering initiatives.
• Set vision, strategy, and direction for program management processes, tools, and standards.
• Drive end-to-end program execution from requirements to launch, on time and within budget.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, Operations and executives to align priorities and resolve roadblocks.
• Mentor and retain a world-class program management team and promote Agile, Lean, and AI-native approaches.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Agile methodologies

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/06/2026

Meet the Team

Cisco’s Security Business Group (SBG) is a global leader in delivering advanced security solutions, helping customers address ever-evolving security challenges. As Cisco shifts aggressively to a software and recurring revenue model, SBG leads this transformation, with over $2B in annual revenue and 40%+ YoY growth in software recurring revenue. We are seeking a dynamic, innovative, and technically strong Sr. Director, TPM for driving the strategy, execution, and delivery of large-scale, complex engineering programs across the Unified Network Access and Network Security Engineering Group.

Your Impact

The Senior Director of Engineering Program Management will be responsible. This leader will collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product Management, Engineering, Operations, and executive leadership to deliver industry leading network access and security solutions, ensuring alignment with business objectives and high standards of quality, speed, and innovation.

Lead a high-performing program management organization responsible for multiple, concurrent engineering initiatives across unified network access and network security. Set vision, strategy, and direction for program management processes, tools, and standards that enable predictable, scalable delivery. Drive end-to-end program execution, from requirements and planning through delivery and launch, ensuring programs are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget. Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Operations, and other partners to align priorities, resolve roadblocks, and ensure clear accountability and ownership. Establish critical metrics and reporting mechanisms to measure program effectiveness, drive continuous improvement, and communicate progress to partners and executive leadership. Build, mentor, and retain a world-class program management team, fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and collaboration. Act as a change agent, championing Agile, Lean, and AI native approaches to program management and delivery. Identify and proactively mitigate program risks and dependencies. Represent the Unified Network Access and Network Security Engineering Group in cross-organizational forums and executive updates.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent industry experience driving large complex TPM organizations. 15+ years of experience in the software industry with a background in engineering program management, a leadership role in a large, matrixed technology organization. Experience leading technical programs for AI-native or cloud-native products. Experience in Agile, Lean, and modern program management methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Cisco’s security or networking technologies. Proven experience as TPM leader in a hyperscale cloud environment (preferably security background), with a track record of building and scaling high-performing teams. Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and get results in a fast-paced environment. Strong eye for business and the ability to align program goals with company strateg and experience managing globally distributed teams. Master's Degree or equivalent experience or PMP, PgMP, or other relevant program management certifications.

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 $284,700.00 to $390,900.00 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: $284,700.00 - $449,500.00
• Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $272,000.00 - $398,000.00

* 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. Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.