Cisco

Data Engineering Technical Leader - CX AI

Cisco • $186K — $267K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of experience, or Master's degree and 6+ years of experience.
  • Proficient in Python and SQL, with backend development skills in Go, Java, Node.js, or Rust.
  • Experience with REST or GraphQL API design and relational or NoSQL databases.
  • Familiar with distributed messaging and streaming systems like Apache Kafka or AWS SQS/SNS.
  • Experience with modern lakehouse/warehouse technologies such as Snowflake or Databricks.

Responsibilities

  • Architect, build, and optimize scalable cloud-native backend services.
  • Design batch and streaming ETL/ELT pipelines and modern lakehouse architectures.
  • Establish enterprise-grade standards for data modeling and governance.
  • Define high-performance API contracts and backend microservices.
  • Drive CI/CD automation and mentor data engineering teams.

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution.
  • Paid parental leave and disability coverage.
  • Flexible vacation time off for exempt employees.
  • Paid time off for holidays, personal wellness, and volunteering.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 12/10/2026
This is a Hybrid role requiring work onsite Tuesday-Thursday.

Your Impact

You will be the architectural and technical authority driving our next-generation cloud-native data platform. Operating as a hands-on builder and leader, you will own distributed data pipelines, lakehouse architectures, and backend services end-to-end-powering real-time CX analytics and AI-ready data foundations. You will establish organizational standards for data modeling, streaming, and observability while mentoring engineering pods and aligning technical execution with strategic business priorities.

Key Responsibilities
  • Data Platform Architecture: Architect, build, and optimize scalable cloud-native backend services and data platforms supporting high-throughput ingestion, real-time analytics, and downstream AI/ML consumption.
  • Pipeline & Lakehouse Engineering: Design robust batch and streaming ETL/ELT pipelines, implementing event-driven data flows, Change Data Capture (CDC), and modern lakehouse architectures (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks).
  • Data Quality & Observability: Establish enterprise-grade standards for data modeling, semantic layers, schema governance, distributed tracing, and real-time telemetry/alerting to ensure high data integrity and reliability.
  • API & Service Integration: Define high-performance API contracts (REST, GraphQL) and backend microservices that expose trusted datasets and metrics for self-service reporting and AI applications.
  • Technical Leadership & Governance: Drive CI/CD automation, conduct code and design reviews, mentor senior and mid-level data engineers, and coordinate cross-team technical dependencies across platform, security, and product stakeholders.


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of related experience, or a Masters degree with 6+ years of related experience.
  • Experience in Python and SQL for data engineering, automation, and transformation, along with backend development experience in languages such as Go, Java, Node.js, or Rust.
  • Experience designing REST or GraphQL APIs, with experience in relational PostgreSQL, MySQL and/or NoSQL databases.
  • Experience implementing distributed messaging and streaming systems using Apache Kafka, AWS SQS/SNS, or comparable technologies.
  • Experience building and optimizing data platforms using modern lakehouse/warehouse technologies such as Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, or AWS Redshift or similar.
  • Experience building, maintaining, and troubleshooting automated CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions or similar and containerized deployments.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Expertise in large-scale data ingestion architectures, Change Data Capture (CDC), and multi-source ETL/ELT across APIs, databases, event streams, and object storage (S3/GCS).
  • Experience structuring semantic models and feature stores to support data science, predictive modeling, and generative AI/LLM applications.
  • Experience implementing end-to-end data observability, lineage tracking, and monitoring frameworks (e.g., OpenTelemetry, Datadog, Prometheus).
  • Familiarity leveraging AI-assisted development tools (Copilot, Cursor) and AIOps practices to accelerate development velocity and reliability.
  • Demonstrated track record of technical mentorship, driving architectural consensus across matrixed teams, and translating business goals into robust engineering roadmaps.


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

The starting salary range posted for this position is $186,900.00 to $267,700.00 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:
$186,900.00 - $307,800.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$166,300.00 - $274,100.00

* 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.

About Cisco

Cisco Careers

Join the vibrant team at Cisco, a global leader in networking and cybersecurity solutions, where innovation and leadership thrive. Cisco offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and experiences, making it an ideal place for both seasoned professionals and those seeking an internship to jumpstart their career. Work You’ll Do At Cisco, you’ll be part of a culture that values diversity, leadership, and professional growth. Engage in work that matters with a team that combines technology, creativity, and the power of human connection to redefine networking. Cisco’s commitment to innovation isn’t just about technology, but also about transforming the way we work and collaborate. Cisco’s employment philosophy supports career advancement and nurtures a leadership pipeline that is equipped with diversity training and opportunities for growth. Whether you’re applying your skills to drive our latest innovations or using our vast networking capabilities to solve complex problems, at Cisco, every role is impactful. Join Our Dynamic Team Explore job opportunities in areas ranging from engineering to marketing, sales to cybersecurity. Cisco is hiring individuals who are passionate, curious, and ready to drive change. Positions at Cisco offer competitive benefits, a supportive culture, and the chance to work with cutting-edge technology. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with a Cisco internship. Gain invaluable industry experience, enhance your resume, and build professional networks that last a lifetime. Our internships provide hands-on experience and the chance to work on projects that matter. Leadership and Development Cisco is committed to fostering leadership skills and providing employees with the training needed to succeed. Our leadership programs help you develop new skills, manage teams effectively, and lead with confidence. Cisco’s commitment to professional development ensures that your career path is as dynamic as our technologies. Benefits and Culture Cisco understands the importance of a balanced life. Our benefits package is designed to ensure that our team members are healthy, happy, and secure. At Cisco, you’ll find a supportive culture that encourages open communication, teamwork, and mutual respect. Stay Connected Join Cisco’s Talent Network Stay informed about new positions that match your skills and interests. At Cisco, we value the curiosity and unique perspectives of our team members. Subscribe to receive personalized job alerts and insider tips directly from our hiring managers. Explore Cisco Jobs Ready to advance your career at Cisco? Search open positions, prepare your resume, and get ready for an interview that could lead to your next big opportunity. At Cisco, we’re not just filling positions—we’re investing in leaders. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await you at Cisco.
Learn more about Cisco
Size
79,500 employees
Market Cap
$194.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$10.1 billion
Founded
2014
5 Year Trend
+1.4%
Revenue
$48 billion
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