Technical Lead, Keynote and Events

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 136,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. seeks a Technical Lead, Keynote and Events to guide engineering support for high-visibility events. You will blend hands-on technical work with team leadership, coordinating with the Flagship Keynote team to power executive demos and event experiences.

The role demands deep technical expertise, superb organization, and calm decision‑making under pressure, with collaboration across teams to deliver world‑class events.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in technical engineering delivering solutions in high-stakes environments.
• 2+ years leading and managing technical engineering teams.
• CCNA certification or higher with Cisco product experience.
• 5+ years diagnosing issues quickly in live environments.
• Experience using at least 2 AI tools to automate workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering support for executive keynote demos with Flagship Keynote team.
• Direct engineering support for Cisco flagship and industry events.
• Operate with executive-level visibility in high-pressure settings.

Skills

Technical leadership

Live events experience

High-stakes environments

Executive demos support

Collaboration & team work

Education

CCNA certification or higher

Tools

Python

Bash

SDK/API development

AI tools platforms

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/04/2026

Meet the Team

You will join a dynamic team passionate about delivering world-class events. Technology and networking are at the heart of every great event, and this team builds and supports the infrastructure that powers Cisco's flagship and industry events. Our deployments are critical to the success of every in-person event and every attendee experience. The team values tight collaboration, knowledge sharing, and celebrating success together.

Your Impact

The Technical Lead, Keynote and Events role is responsible for leading engineering support for Cisco's highest-visibility events and executive keynote demos. This role combines hands-on technical execution with team leadership, requiring deep technical expertise, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to operate effectively in high-stakes, dynamic environments with executive-level visibility. This role will lead engineering support of executive keynote demos in partnership with the Flagship Keynote team, as well as lead engineering support for Cisco’s flagship and industry events.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in technical engineering roles, with a track record of successfully delivering solutions in complex, high-stakes environments (e.g., live events, executive presentations, or mission-critical operations).
• 2+ years of experience leading and managing technical engineering teams of 2 or more engineers.
• Current CCNA certification or higher with 5+ years of experience working with Cisco products and solutions.
• 5+ years of experience diagnosing and resolving technical issues within minutes, in high-pressure, live environments.
• Practical experience using at least 2+ AI tools or platforms to automate workflows, improve processes, and increase team efficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting executive-level presentations or keynote demonstrations.
• Scripting and development skills (e.g., Python, Bash, or similar).
• SDK and API development experience.
• Reputation as a trusted problem-solver and go-to resource in high-pressure situations.
• Excellent communication and executive presence; ability to interface confidently with senior leadership.
• Highly organized with exceptional multitasking abilities across multiple concurrent projects.

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 $136,200.00 to $172,600.00 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: $136,200.00 - $198,500.00 Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $121,200.00 - $176,600.00 * 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.