Software Architect, Duo

Cisco Systems; Austin (TX); Remote; USD 154,000 - 257,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems is seeking a Software Architect for Duo IAM to own architecture decisions of scalable, secure SaaS platforms, with enterprise and government compliance baked in from day one.

Based in Austin, TX or Ann Arbor, MI with remote options, you will work across Product, Security, SRE, and Engineering to translate regulatory requirements into executable technical plans, and to build tooling for auditors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree + 12 years of related experience, or Masters + 8 years of related experience, or PhD + 5 years of related experience to include experience in software development lifecycles and project management practices.
• Experience in microservice-based architecture and building modern SaaS applications on AWS/GCP/Azure
• Experience with existing software implementations, to include designing and building new AI-enabled tools.
• Experience in regulatory compliance architecture (FedRAMP, CRA, PQC, and related frameworks)
• Experience translating compliance and security requirements into engineering roadmaps and deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Understand the existing software and production architecture of the service, identify gaps, and drive architectural improvements that keep the platform reliable, scalable, and ready for evolving security and compliance requirements.
• Partner with Duo Engineering and product management to evolve the Duo IAM product. Cisco Confidential
• Design and evolve service, data, and delivery architecture so security and compliance controls are built into how we ship — not bolted on after the fact.
• Leverage AI for analysis and to build tools that help engineering teams implement architectural and compliance requirements with less friction.
• Partner with Duo Engineering to produce application-level evidence for auditors, grounded in how the system is designed and operated.
• Work closely with product managers responsible for platform, security, and certification-related features.

Skills

Microservices

SaaS Architecture

Security & Compliance

AI-enabled Tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS or related field

Master’s degree in CS or related field

PhD in relevant field

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/15/2026

Preferred candidates will be based in Ann Arbor, MI or Austin, TX. Remote candidates will be considered.

Meet the Team

Duo builds a modern, high-scale IAM solution. This Software Architect role is for someone who has designed and shipped production SaaS systems and can hold the architecture of those systems as they grow — including the security and compliance constraints that come with serving enterprise and government customers.

This is an opportunity for an architect who can work across Product, Security, SRE, and Duo Engineering to translate platform and regulatory requirements into executable technical work, and to build systems that connect Duo to broader Security Business Group (SBG) processes. Duo’s platform has material exposure to FIPS, FedRAMP, the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), Cisco Security and Trust Organization (STO) requirements, customer attestations, and audit evidence. Those obligations are architectural inputs: they shape how we design services, operate production, and ship software.

Your Impact

This role is grounded in hands-on experience building modern SaaS applications. You will own architecture decisions that keep the platform scalable, operable, and secure — with compliance designed into delivery workflows rather than handled as ad hoc audit support. In this role, you will:

• Understand the existing software and production architecture of the service, identify gaps, and drive architectural improvements that keep the platform reliable, scalable, and ready for evolving security and compliance requirements.

• Partner with Duo Engineering and product management to evolve the Duo IAM product. Cisco Confidential

• Design and evolve service, data, and delivery architecture so security and compliance controls are built into how we ship — not bolted on after the fact.

• Leverage AI for analysis and to build tools that help engineering teams implement architectural and compliance requirements with less friction.

• Partner with Duo Engineering to produce application-level evidence for auditors, grounded in how the system is designed and operated.

• Work closely with product managers responsible for platform, security, and certification-related features.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree + 12 years of related experience, or Masters + 8 years of related experience, or PhD + 5 years of related experience to include experience in software development lifecycles and project management practices.

• Experience in microservice-based architecture and building modern SaaS applications on AWS/GCP/Azure

• Experience with existing software implementations, to include designing and building new AI-enabled tools.

• Experience in regulatory compliance architecture (FedRAMP, CRA, PQC, and related frameworks)

• Experience translating compliance and security requirements into engineering roadmaps and deliverables.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to exercise cross-functional influence across Security, Product, SRE, and engineering without direct authority and identify/coordinate cross-team dependencies.

• Experience building IAM products.

• Experience working in FIPS / FedRAMP environments.

• Experience with Post Quantum Cryptography transition planning and execution.

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 $177,600.00 to $257,400.00 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 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:

$214,100.00 - $356,300.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$192,400.00 - $317,200.00

• 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.

Cisco is an Affidant and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.