Automation AI Ops Engineer Hybrid

Responsibilities

• AI-Driven Regression: Architect and drive AI-based automation strategies to replace manual QA, ensuring comprehensive regression coverage for the entire Circuit platform.
• Modernizing Legacy Features: Utilize AI agents to modernize existing features, generating and maintaining accurate regression suites for legacy codebases.
• Agentic Workflow Development: Build and refine workflows where AI agents generate code that passes automated validation and is successfully checked into the main production branch.
• Quality Validation: Establish robust validation frameworks to ensure that AI-generated artifacts meet Cisco’s high standards for functional quality and performance.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Act as a "Team Captain" for automation initiatives, influencing peers and collaborating with engineering teams to integrate automated testing into the core development lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years, Master’s degree with 4+ years, or PhD with 1+ year of related experience in Computer Science, AI/ML, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience in test automation and regression framework development, with a deep understanding of functional quality assurance.
• Hands-on experience using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code) to build, validate, and deploy production-level software artifacts.
• Ability to read and judge the stability of the auto generated code, such that, it does not violate security standards.
• Solid conceptual and practical knowledge of software development lifecycles, including CI/CD pipelines and automated testing best practices.
• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate technical trade-offs between manual and automated testing strategies.

Qualifications

• Experience in AI Ops, MLOps, or building/fine-tuning custom LLMs.
• Proven track record of leading technical projects and mentoring junior engineers.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills; ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and work effectively within a team environment.
• Experience with "Design Thinking" principles, specifically applying system-level design to AI-driven user experiences.
• Hands-on experience with real-time AI workload management and token optimization strategies.
• Experience building and productizing agentic applications with focus on evaluation and business acceptance.

Skills

• Expertise in AI-driven regression testing and modernization of legacy features.
• Proficiency in AI-assisted coding tools and frameworks.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles and CI/CD pipelines.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Experience with "Design Thinking" and system-level design.
• Hands-on experience with real-time AI workload management and token optimization.
• Experience in building and productizing agentic applications.

Benefits

The starting salary range posted for this position is $199,700.00 to $254,600.00 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.

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.

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:

• 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
• 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
• 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 sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.