Software Quality Engineering Manager

Cisco; Boxborough (MA); Hybrid; USD 166,000 - 238,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Parental leave

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a senior QA leader to guide the quality assurance strategy for Cisco Secure Client across desktop and mobile platforms in a hybrid Boxborough, MA setting. You will drive AI-enabled testing, automation adoption, and validation methodologies while mentoring a team of QA engineers and aligning quality goals with customer needs.

You will influence cross-functional partners in engineering, product management, and support to elevate product security, reliability and customer trust,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software quality assurance, cybersecurity, cloud, IT, or related technical fields
• Leadership experience - leading one or more teams
• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of related experience, Master’s degree with 8+ years of related experience, or PhD with 5+ years of related experience
• Experience testing desktop and mobile applications, including automation frameworks and AI/ML-based testing tools
• Experience developing QA strategies, test plans, and validation processes for enterprise software products
• Experience with QA automation methodologies, performance testing, defect tracking, and CI/CD environments

Responsibilities

• Lead the quality assurance strategy and execution for Cisco Secure Client across desktop and mobile platforms
• Drive the adoption of AI-enabled testing frameworks, automation tools, and validation methodologies
• Collaborate with engineering, product management, support, and cross-functional stakeholders
• Mentor QA engineers and guide technical excellence across automation, AI/ML validation, and continuous improvement
• Represent the QA organization as a trusted partner and advocate for quality best practices, responsible AI integration, and scalable endpoint security solutions

Skills

QA leadership

Software QA

Cybersecurity testing

AI/ML testing tools

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Master’s degree

PhD

Tools

Automation frameworks

AI/ML testing tools

CI/CD

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/31/2026

This is a hybrid role located in Boxborough, Massachusetts. Must be able to go into the office 3-4 days a week.

Meet the Team

The Cisco Secure Client Quality Assurance team delivers secure, reliable, and high-quality endpoint security solutions across desktop and mobile platforms. The team plays a critical role in Cisco’s broader security portfolio by ensuring products meet the highest standards for performance, usability, and protection for enterprise customers worldwide. Comprised of experienced QA engineers and automation specialists with expertise in cybersecurity, AI-driven testing, and software validation, the team operates in a highly collaborative and technically focused environment. Team members work closely with engineering, product management, and support organizations to influence product quality throughout the development lifecycle. What makes this team exciting is the opportunity to innovate with AI-powered testing technologies that directly improve how users connect and work securely at scale.

Your Impact

Lead the quality assurance strategy and execution for Cisco Secure Client across desktop and mobile platforms to improve product security, reliability, and customer trust. Drive the adoption of AI-enabled testing frameworks, automation tools, and validation methodologies to enhance product quality and accelerate release confidence. Collaborate with engineering, product management, support, and cross-functional stakeholders to align quality goals with customer needs and business priorities. Mentor QA engineers and guide technical excellence across automation, AI/ML validation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Represent the QA organization as a trusted partner and advocate for quality best practices, responsible AI integration, and scalable endpoint security solutions.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software quality assurance, cybersecurity, cloud, IT, or related technical fields
• Leadership experience - leading one or more teams.
• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of related experience, Master’s degree with 8+ years of related experience, or PhD with 5+ years of related experience
• Experience testing desktop and mobile applications, including automation frameworks and AI/ML-based testing tools
• Experience developing QA strategies, test plans, and validation processes for enterprise software products
• Experience with QA automation methodologies, performance testing, defect tracking, and CI/CD environments

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of AI, machine learning, endpoint security, networking, identity, and zero trust technologies
• Experience supporting endpoint security products and platforms at enterprise scale
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders on QA strategy and AI-enabled testing initiatives
• Experience providing technical guidance on AI integration, automation, and quality assurance best practices
• Understanding of AI model validation, security compliance requirements, and customer quality expectations

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 $166,300.00 to $238,300.00 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

$186,900.00 - $307,800.00

Non-Metro New York State & Washington State

$166,300.00 - $274,100.00

• 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.