Cisco

Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer, AISWP (Hybrid)

Cisco$342K — $433K *
Information Technology
15+ years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field (17+ years experience); Master's (14+ years); PhD (10+ years).
  • 5+ years at 'Principal' level, influencing technical strategy across 3+ product organizations.
  • 2+ years designing and deploying LLM-based systems with 10,000+ daily users or 500+ requests/second.
  • Experience architecting at least 1 production-grade multi-agent system using complex frameworks.
  • 10+ years of writing production-grade code in Go, Python, or Rust in hyperscale environments.
  • Designed and implemented at least 3 critical safety or observability features in production.

Responsibilities

  • Define and implement multi-year technical strategies for agentic systems.
  • Serve as the primary technical authority and negotiate architectural decisions with executives.
  • Architect complex systems for scalable solutions, utilizing hybrid and graph-based retrieval.
  • Establish company-wide standards for AI safety, observability, and compliance.
  • Mentor Principal and Senior-level engineers, fostering innovation and technical excellence.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model based out of the San Jose office.
  • Opportunity to work alongside senior executive leadership.
  • Engage in cutting-edge AI research and production engineering.
  • Impact global infrastructure through transformative technology.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 10/04/2026This is a hybrid role based out of Cisco's San Jose office.

Meet the team

Cisco's AI Software & Platform team (AISWP) is the heartbeat of Cisco's AI transformation. We aren't just integrating AI; we are building the infrastructure that defines how the internet is managed. As a Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer, you will have a seat at the table where the future of autonomous, agentic networking is designed. Working directly alongside senior executive leadership, you will lead the architecture for Cisco Cloud Control and Canvas-the cornerstone platforms that are shifting Cisco from a collection of products to a unified, AI-driven Agentic Ops powerhouse. This is a rare opportunity to move the needle on a global scale, solving high-stakes challenges that directly impact our customers' ability to run their most critical infrastructure.

Your Impact

You will be the bridge between cutting-edge AI research and massive-scale engineering. You will collaborate with our most senior AI researchers, distributed systems architects, and product visionaries to turn abstract technical possibilities into production reality. You will serve as the primary technical advocate, driving alignment across Cisco's broad engineering organization to ensure our AI services are secure, scalable, and genuinely transformative.

As a Distinguished Machine Learning Engineer, you will own the technical trajectory of our platform. Your influence will be felt in every layer of the stack, from model context strategies to the security guardrails that keep customer production environments safe.
  • Define and implement multi-year technical strategies for agentic systems, ensuring unified architectural alignment across Cisco's broad product portfolio and global engineering organizations.
  • Serve as the primary internal and external technical authority, negotiating critical architectural decisions with senior executives and driving the adoption of industry standards, such as the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
  • Architect complex systems that use hybrid and graph-based retrieval, creating unique, scalable solutions for cross-product telemetry, root cause analysis, and automated remediation.
  • Establish the company-wide standards for AI safety, observability, and compliance, ensuring that all agent-based autonomous actions remain measurable, auditable, and resilient to production risks.
  • Cultivate a high-performance engineering culture by mentoring Principal and Senior-level leaders, fostering innovation, and representing Cisco's technical excellence at industry forums, standards bodies, and global conferences.


Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field with 17+ years of total software engineering experience; Master's with 14+ years; or PhD with 10+ years.
  • 5+ years of experience operating at a "Principal" level or above, with documented proof of influencing technical strategy across at least 3 distinct product organizations.
  • 2+ years of experience in the design, development, and production-level deployment of LLM-based systems serving at least 10,000+ daily active users or processing 500+ requests per second.
  • Successfully architected and shipped at least 1 production-grade multi-agent system using frameworks such as LangGraph, Temporal, or an equivalent complex state-machine stack.
  • 10+ years of deep experience writing production-grade code in Go, Python, or Rust, specifically within hyperscale environments (e.g., managing architectures supporting 100+ microservices or petabyte-scale data pipelines).
  • Experience designing and implementing at least 3 critical safety or observability features in a production environment (e.g., indirect prompt injection defense, human-in-the-loop gates, or automated rollbacks).


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience establishing AI governance frameworks (e.g., NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act) and ensuring enterprise compliance across the model lifecycle.
  • Expertise in advanced post-training methodologies, including reinforcement learning from verifiable rewards (RLHF/DPO) and supervised fine-tuning.
  • Deep knowledge of inference serving optimizations, such as KV/prefix caching, continuous batching, and model routing strategies.
  • Contributions to the external technical community, including published research, patents, or active leadership roles in industry open-source standards bodies.
  • Experience in AIOps or network management, specifically in creating correlated context across disparate network and cloud infrastructure layers.

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
NASDAQ

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