Director, AI Engineering

Application window expected to close on 08/07/2026; posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or sufficient applications are received.

About the Team

The Cisco AI Software & Platform Group incubates and delivers Generative AI-based solutions to reinvent Cisco's existing products and how customers interact with them. The group also introduces new offerings that help customers roll out Generative AI at scale responsibly. This team operates like a startup within Cisco, comprising front-end, backend, and ML engineers focused on innovative AI solutions.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the core platform team for AI applications and agentic management applications.
• Own end-to-end delivery of platform capabilities and features at scale to drive business growth.
• Evaluate, perform due diligence, select, and standardize tools and technologies for AI platform development.
• Stay updated on emerging AI technologies and architectural trends to make informed technology adoption decisions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product management and design.
• Spearhead new agentic initiatives and develop Cisco’s Agentic Ops Solution AI Canvas and AI-based solutions that ease management and operation of various Cisco products.
• Take the team and product from concept to delivery, overseeing a talented team leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies.

Requirements

• Proven engineering leadership experience in Cloud software development for enterprise platforms and applications, or in Cloud development, or AI/ML (preferably Generative AI).
• 5+ years in a management role leading teams of software engineers, architects, or ML engineers.
• Bachelor’s degree with 15+ years of engineering experience OR Master’s degree with 12+ years of engineering experience.
• Experience leading teams engaged in AI software development lifecycle (AI-DLC) building AI applications or similar AI assistants, co-pilot products.
• Hands-on experience with generative AI tools such as Codex and Claude.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build and lead fast-paced teams, including experience leading managers.
• Experience building front-end applications and developer experience services.
• PhD with 8+ years of engineering experience.
• Resourceful and thorough, comfortable leading design sessions with technologists and business executives.
• Experience working in both large companies and startups.

About 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. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $250,600.00 to $362,600.00 for new hires 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.

Full salary ranges by location:

• New York City Metro Area: $250,600.00 - $416,900.00
• Non-Metro New York State & Washington State: $241,400.00 - $371,000.00

For quota-based sales roles, the ranges include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
• Paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance.
• Eligibility to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment.
• Paid time off:
  • 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.
  • Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period.
  • Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit (subject to availability and business limitations).
  • 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, with up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward.
  • 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.
• Eligibility to earn annual bonuses (for non-sales roles) or performance-based incentive pay (for sales roles), subject to Cisco’s policies.