Cisco

Efficiency AI Ops Engineer Hybrid

Cisco$203K — $258K *
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience, or Master's plus 4 years, or PhD plus 1 year in Computer Science or a technical field.
  • Proven track record in a production environment with scalable software systems, not just prototypes.
  • Hands-on expertise with AI/ML systems, specifically in model fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or agentic frameworks.
  • Solid foundation in software engineering with skills in clean code, code reviews, and automated testing (regression/CI/CD).
  • Demonstrated experience with technical ownership from concept to deployment, managing entire production lifecycles.

Responsibilities

  • Architect and deploy systems for real-time AI workload management, focusing on model routing and latency reduction.
  • Research and implement cost-efficiency strategies for token compression and batch capacity.
  • Build automated regression and validation pipelines for AI agents ensuring production-readiness and security.
  • Lead specific feature teams, driving consensus and mentoring team members for improved engineering practices.
  • Manage end-to-end ownership of a feature, from research and design to production deployment and post-mortem analysis.

Benefits

  • Hybrid working model with onsite requirements three days per week in either Raleigh, NC or San Jose, CA.
  • Opportunity to work on a high-visibility platform with global impact on business processes within Cisco.
  • Involvement in cutting-edge AI problem-solving, contributing to product innovation and development.
  • Collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams, enhancing professional growth and technical leadership skills.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 10/30/2026This role is hybrid. Onsite 3 days per week in Raleigh (Research Triangle Park), North Carolina or San Jose, California

Your Impact

As an Efficiency AI Ops Engineer, you are a hands-on technical lead who treats AI as an engineering problem. You will not just "use" AI-you will architect, optimize, and scale it. You will tackle high-impact problems like LLM token efficiency, automated model routing, and batch capacity management. In addition, you will introduce new Agentic capabilities to bring business applications to Circuit in AI first manner. Your success is measured by the tangible performance, new capabilities and cost-optimization of the Circuit platform. This is an opportunity to work on a high-visibility platform where your contributions to product innovation and development processes have a tangible, global impact on how Cisco runs its business.

Responsibilities

  • Production Optimization: Architect and deploy systems for real-time AI workload management, including model routing and latency reduction.
  • Cost-Efficiency Engineering: Research and implement strategies for token compression, batch capacity, and fine-tuning to maximize the return on investment of our model garden.
  • Production Reliability: Build automated regression and validation pipelines for AI agents to ensure code generated by AI is production-ready, secure, and reliable.
  • Technical Leadership: Act as a "Team Captain" for specific features; drive consensus among multi-functional teams and mentor peers to improve our collective engineering rigor.
  • System Ownership: Take full ownership of a feature from research and design through to production deployment, security, monitoring, and post-mortem analysis.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree + 6 years of related experience (or Master's + 4, PhD + 1) in Computer Science or a highly technical field.
  • Demonstrated experience in a production environment: Must show evidence of deploying and maintaining scalable software systems, not just standalone POCs.
  • Deep hands-on expertise with AI/ML systems: Experience with model fine-tuning, RAG, or agentic frameworks where you have had to evaluate trade-offs between cost, quality, and performance.
  • Strong Software Engineering foundation: Ability to write clean, maintainable code, lead code reviews, and implement automated testing (regression/CI/CD).
  • Consistent track record of technical ownership: Evidence of leading projects from initial concept to deployment and managing the production lifecycle.
  • Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate and document technical trade-offs regarding cost, quality, and performance.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with real-time AI workload management and custom LLM fine-tuning to meet defined business metrics.
  • Expertise in using AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Cursor, GitHub Copilot) to accelerate development while enforcing strict security standards.
  • Good communication and influence: Ability to translate complex technical trade-offs to product management and non-technical partners.
  • Experience building and productizing agentic applications with focus on evaluation and business acceptance.
  • Mentorship: Experience elevating team technical proficiency through formal and informal knowledge sharing.

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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