Lead Design Researcher

The application window is expected to close on: 06/05/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received .

Note: Preference will be given to candidates local to SF Bay Area.

Meet the Team

Our design practice is a vibrant mosaic, made up of the curious and the brave — product designers, researchers, content designers, operations specialists, and design engineers — who thrive on collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Together, we’re building a culture of design excellence and operational efficiency.

We focus on human needs, working closely with cross-functional partners to deliver impactful design solutions that address complex challenges. The products we design and build have real results for our customers because our users are at the heart of everything that we do. We work directly with users to build a deep understanding of their goals and context, and we explore and iterate on solutions together.

Solving our customers’ security challenges through our focus on simplicity and effectiveness is why we show up daily — and it’s why you should join us.

Your Impact

As a Lead Design Researcher, you’ll be part of the Security Design Research Team, while primarily supporting the AI Software & Platform team. In this role, you’ll drive a deep understanding of users to shape the future of Cisco’s security products and experiences across AI-powered solutions. You will:

• Lead end-to-end qualitative and quantitative UX research—from problem framing and scoping through to analysis and delivery of actionable insights.

• Inform product and design strategy through rigorous generative and evaluative research executed to the highest standards.

• Balance research rigor with scrappiness and innovation as you work alongside a fast-moving AI product and design team.

• Partner with PMs to define UX metrics and telemetry plans, then synthesize data into narratives that guide product decisions or future research.

• Explore how AI can enhance security and networking experiences, identifying opportunities to integrate AI responsibly into our users’ workflows.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors + 8 years of related experience, or Masters + 6 years of related experience, or PhD + 3 years of related experience

• Experience leading qualitative and quantitative research projects in the enterprise environment from discovery through to presentation (discovery, planning, recruitment, execution, synthesis, analysis, presentation)

• Experience partnering with product, design, and engineering teams to define and execute research studies

• Experience applying a variety of research methodologies such as user interviews, usability testing, surveys, benchmarking, concept evaluations, journey mapping or data analysis to inform product and design decisions

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success conducting UX research in the field of AI

• Actively incorporating AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI tools and automating workflows. Role model this practice for others.

• Experience synthesizing and documenting research findings to guide product or design direction

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Can easily navigate and bring clarity to ambiguity

• Experience defining UX success metrics, creating telemetry plans, analyzing behavioral product data

• Excellent communication and presentation / storytelling skills

• Experience working in a B2B or B2C large enterprise

Why 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. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. 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.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $168,800.00 to $241,200.00 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. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

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. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. 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, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 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, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 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 incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$168,800.00 - $277,400.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$148,800.00 - $248,200.00

• 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.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.

Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.