Software Engineering Technical Leader, Backend (Hybrid)

This is a hybrid role based out of Cisco's San Jose office.

About the Team

Meet the Team Studio is the experience where anyone—engineers, non-technical builders, and AI agents—can go from a prompt to a running, production-grade app. It brings together an App Builder and a bring-your-own coding-agent path, with the docs and resources to build and manage apps your own way. We're building the platform for AI app development, and Studio is the craft-defined surface on top of it. Pioneers in our field, AISP enables Cisco product teams, customers, and partners to maximize value with a simple, unified Cisco AI experience, driving accelerated time to impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead major, large-scale engineering projects with enterprise-wide impact, defining the architectural roadmap for Cisco’s AI-powered backend systems.
• Proactively identify and resolve highly complex technical challenges that impact the strategic direction and resource allocation of the business.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies that enhance product value for customers and clients, setting new standards for platform reliability and performance.
• Act as a subject matter expert, providing guidance on advanced technical issues and influencing cross-functional leaders to adopt best practices.
• Utilize independent judgment to determine methods and techniques for complex system design, ensuring alignment with long-term organizational objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in STEM + 15 years of related experience, or Master's degree in STEM + 12 years of related experience, or PhD in STEM + 8 years of related experience.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience architecting and scaling backend platforms in a production environment.
• 10+ years of professional programming experience using Python and/or Go.
• Experience deploying and managing services on major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) with a focus on enterprise-grade reliability.
• Proficiency in containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and complex microservices architectures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of integrating and building with Generative AI technologies and LLM frameworks at scale.
• Deep, comprehensive understanding of modern AI tools, ML methodologies, and complex data pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to drive technology innovation by translating emerging industry trends into scalable, actionable backend execution.
• Exceptional ability to design highly reliable, maintainable, and distributed systems that serve as the foundation for global products.
• Experience leading cross-functional platform initiatives and mentoring senior engineering staff to build organizational capability.

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. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $214,100.00 to $309,800.00 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 for specific locations:

• 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, the ranges include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Basic life insurance
• Cisco restricted stock units (subject to vesting periods)
• 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: 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year (accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period)
• Exempt employees: Flexible vacation time off with no defined limit (subject to 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 annually
• Additional paid time away for critical or emergency family issues
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
• Annual bonuses (subject to Cisco’s policies for non-sales roles)
• For sales roles: Performance-based incentive pay split between quota and non-quota components