Distinguished Engineer – Chief Architect

Cisco

Leading the architectural direction for Cisco’s enterprise AI platform. Collaborating with various business units to ensure production-ready services.

Posted 7/31/2026full-timeSan Jose • California, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $342,700 - $433,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Expertise in defining and driving architectural strategy for enterprise AI platforms, with a strong focus on technical innovation, mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration. Proven ability to evaluate and implement scalable solutions in large-scale enterprise environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

AI/ML SystemsTechnical ArchitectureDistributed SystemsCloud-Native InfrastructureSoftware Engineering

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Technical StrategyArchitectural PrinciplesProduction-Grade Platform DevelopmentComplex Technical Challenges ResolutionMulti-Functional Initiative LeadershipEnterprise Readiness EvaluationScalability AssessmentStandards DevelopmentTechnical PublicationsMentorship

Soft Skills

CollaborationLeadershipCommunicationMentorship

Industry Keywords

Enterprise AIPlatform EngineeringTechnical AuthorityArchitectural InfluenceLarge-Scale Data Platforms

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

AWSAzureCloudDistributed SystemsGoogle Cloud Platform

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

define the long-term architecture for Cisco’s enterprise AI platform
lead the design and resolution of the organization’s most complex technical challenges
set architectural principles and reference patterns that reduce fragmentation
create and drive a clear path converting advanced technical invention into production-grade platform capabilities
partner closely with Platform Engineering to ensure new ideas are designed for production
align technical innovation with CIRCUIT’s long-term roadmap and value proposition
act as the primary architectural bridge across various business units
evaluate technical feasibility, scalability, and enterprise readiness of emerging areas
represent Cisco as a recognized technical authority in enterprise AI
elevate the technical maturity of the organization through mentorship and architectural reviews

Requirements

What you’ll need

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 background of leading complex, multi-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

Comp & perks

medical, dental and vision insurance
a 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 (non-exempt employees)
flexible vacation time off program for exempt employees
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency issues
optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer