Cisco

Engineering Program Manager

Cisco$171K — $245K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 8+ years or Master's degree with 6+ years or PhD with 3+ years of related experience.
  • Experience in leading complex technical programs for enterprise SaaS products from launch to operation.
  • Proven track record of leading generative AI or agentic capabilities from development through post-launch iteration.
  • Ability to influence cross-functional teams in a matrixed organizational structure.
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms, APIs, distributed systems, data systems, and AI practices.

Responsibilities

  • Transform product strategy into actionable plans and clear milestones.
  • Oversee large programs with high risk and multiple dependencies impacting various stakeholders.
  • Coordinate initiatives involving product, engineering, and AI integration across multiple teams.
  • Manage product and technical roadmaps by balancing tradeoffs and resources effectively.
  • Lead the development of agentic AI programs from inception to continuous improvement.
  • Implement delivery practices focusing on AI quality and reliability metrics pre- and post-launch.
  • Synthesize program updates and technical insights for executive stakeholders. 
  • Mentor program managers and contribute to strategic planning across a one-year horizon.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI and SaaS technology.
  • Collaborative, multi-functional team environment.
  • Focus on delivering enterprise-grade, AI-powered products.
  • Chance to influence company strategies and product development.
  • Mentorship opportunities for professional growth.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 08/24/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Meet the Team

You will join a team building complex, cloud-native SaaS and AI-powered products that move from concept through production launch, adoption, and ongoing operation. The team works across product management, engineering, applied AI/ML, data, infrastructure, security, compliance, customer experience, and go-to-market partners to deliver customer-ready capabilities at scale. This is a highly multi-functional environment where transparency, execution, rigor, and strong partnership are critical to success. The work is fast-moving, and focused on delivering enterprise-grade products and AI capabilities that are reliable, secure, and built for real-world adoption.
Your Impact

As a Technical Program Manager, you will lead sophisticated SaaS and AI-powered product initiatives from strategy through production delivery and operation. You will bring structure to ambiguous programs and drive alignment across large, multi-functional teams.
  • Turn product and technical strategy into clear plans, milestones, dependencies, success metrics, and ownership across teams.
  • Lead large programs with moderate to high risk, multiple interdependencies, and impact across customers, partners, platforms, and releases.
  • Lead programs spanning product, engineering, design, data, applied AI/ML, infrastructure, security, compliance, customer experience, and go-to-market teams.
  • Influence product and technical roadmaps by managing critical paths, sequencing, architecture dependencies, delivery tradeoffs, risks, resources, and commitments.
  • Lead agentic AI programs from definition through production and iteration, coordinating agent workflows, model and tool integration, grounding, evaluations, guardrails, observability, and human oversight.
  • Establish evaluation-driven delivery practices so AI quality, safety, latency, cost, and reliability are measured before launch and monitored in production.
  • Partner with engineering and quality teams to define validation, release, observability, and operational-readiness requirements for continuous integration and deployment.
  • Communicate program status, technical tradeoffs, risks, and decisions to executive audiences with clear recommendations.
  • Provide guidance and mentorship to other program managers and team members while driving a strategic horizon of one year or more.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of related experience, Master's degree with 6+ years of related experience, or PhD with 3+ years of related experience.
  • Experience leading complex technical programs for enterprise SaaS products through production launch and ongoing operation.
  • Experience directly leading at least one generative AI, LLM-based, or agentic capability through development, production launch, and post-launch iteration.
  • Previous experience leading cross-functional technical programs through influence in a highly matrixed organization.
  • Experience in cloud platforms, APIs, distributed systems, data systems, and modern AI development and deployment practices.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience leading multi-team SaaS or AI programs involving cloud-native architecture, API integrations, data platforms, AI evaluations, security, reliability, and customer-facing production launches.
  • Experience with generative AI and agentic systems, including agent orchestration, tool use, retrieval-augmented generation, evaluation frameworks, guardrails, observability, and human-in-the-loop workflows.
  • Ability to understand system architecture, identify cross-platform dependencies, facilitate engineering tradeoffs, and translate complex technical risks and decisions for executive audiences.
  • Experience applying fit-for-purpose development and execution practices, including Agile methodologies, to improve planning, decision-making, delivery, and learning.
  • Strong ability to bring structure to ambiguous initiatives, drive timely decisions, and create accountability across product, engineering, security, compliance, customer experience, and go-to-market stakeholders.


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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