Director, AI Engineering (Milpitas)

The application window is expected to close on: 08/07/2026Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.Meet the TeamThe Cisco AI Software & Platform Group incubates and delivers Generative AI based solutions to reinvent Cisco's existing Products and how customers interact with them. Our Group is also introducing new offerings that help customers roll out Generative AI at scale while doing so responsibly. Ultimately, we are doing so through internal platforms that unlock the benefits of this technology for Cisco teams and partners across our Security, Enterprise Networking, Collaboration and Splunk portfolios. This team operates like a startup within Cisco, comprising front-end, backend, and ML engineers focused on innovative AI solutions.Your ImpactCisco is seeking a Director of Engineering, AI to lead our new platform engineering team in the AI Software and Platforms group and to spearhead new agentic initiatives. This role is pivotal in developing our Agentic Ops Solution AI Canvas and AI-based solutions that ease management and operation of various Cisco products.The Director will take the team and product from concept to delivery, overseeing a talented team leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies.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.Minimum QualificationsProven 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 QualificationsStrong 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 is preferred.Resourceful and thorough, comfortable leading design sessions with technologists and business executives.Experience working in both large companies and startups.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 $250,600.00 to $362,600.00 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 employees1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by CiscoNon-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 employeesExempt 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 nextAdditional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family membersOptional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteerFor 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%; andOnce 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:$250,600.00 - $416,900.00Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:$241,400.00 - $371,000.00* 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.Job SummaryJob number: 2020836Date posted : 2026-08-03Profession: Product and EngineeringEmployment type: Full time