Serve as the senior technical authority for Cisco’s most strategic and complex AI architecture challenges
Define the technical north star for CIRCUIT’s evolution and lead the invention-to-productization path across Cisco’s enterprise AI ecosystem
Define the long-term architecture for Cisco’s enterprise AI platform, encompassing agentic systems, multi-agent orchestration, LLM integration, search and AI convergence, retrieval and memory frameworks, evaluation and reliability systems, human‑in‑the‑loop controls, and scalable data pipelines
Lead the design and resolution of the organization’s most complex technical challenges, including multi‑agent system reliability, orchestration frameworks, long‑term context retention, model routing, retrieval patterns, trust mechanisms, and enterprise‑scale AI performance
Set architectural principles and reference patterns that reduce fragmentation and enable consistent execution across the eight‑pillar operating model
Create and drive a clear path that converts advanced technical invention into production‑grade platform capabilities
Partner closely with Platform Engineering to ensure new ideas are designed for production from the outset
Align technical innovation with CIRCUIT’s long‑term roadmap and value proposition in collaboration with Product Management
Act as the primary architectural bridge across Platform Engineering, Solutions Engineering, Process Engineering, Product, and other Cisco business units
Work across corporate functions to ensure internal AI efforts build on CIRCUIT securely, interoperably, and extensibly
Represent Cisco as a recognized technical authority in enterprise AI, engaging with research communities, partners, customers, and industry ecosystems
Elevate the technical maturity of the organization through mentorship, architectural reviews, standards setting, and hands‑on guidance

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
17+ years of experience in software engineering, technical architecture, distributed systems, AI/ML, or platform engineering; advanced degree may substitute for some experience
Demonstrated experience as a principal engineer, architect, or senior technical leader in large-scale enterprise environments
Proven ability to define technical strategy and drive architectural direction across multiple organizations and business domains
Strong track record of leading complex, cross-functional technical initiatives from concept through production
Experience with AI/ML systems, distributed systems, cloud-native infrastructure, or large-scale data platforms
Demonstrated history of architectural influence through standards, patents, publications, technical papers, or comparable contributions.

Benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance
401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
paid parental leave
short and long-term disability coverage
basic life insurance
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
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
flexible vacation time off program
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

AI architecturemulti-agent systemsLLM integrationdata pipelinesorchestration frameworksmodel routingretrieval patternstrust mechanismsenterprise-scale AI performancecloud-native infrastructure

Soft Skills

technical leadershipmentorshipcross-functional collaborationstrategic thinkingproblem-solvingcommunicationinfluenceguidancestandards settinginnovation