Cisco

Principal Corporate Counsel: Incubation & Enterprise AI

Cisco • $192K — $243K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (JD) with 8+ years of experience in law firm or in-house legal department.
  • Demonstrated experience in product counseling, technology law, and transactions.
  • Proven ability to synthesize regulatory complexities into actionable business advice.
  • Exceptional drafting and negotiation skills for clear communication with executives and engineers.
  • Familiarity with open source legal issues and experience with dynamic product teams.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a key legal partner to innovative teams at Cisco.
  • Provide dynamic legal guidance for collaboration with third parties on emerging technologies.
  • Ensure compliance by design through cross-functional collaboration.
  • Provide agile legal guidance on joint development, regulatory risk, and data governance.
  • Offer clear, actionable insights on complex legal and business matters.
  • Leverage AI to enhance and expedite legal guidance delivery.
  • Enable clients to launch and graduate innovations while building user trust.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model with in-office attendance generally required two days a week.
  • Opportunities to work within a growing and innovative legal team.
  • Engagement with cutting-edge technologies in AI and quantum networking.
  • Collaborative and dynamic work environment focused on trust-building in innovation.
  • Support for continuous learning and professional development.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 10/28/2026

"Members of the Legal organization at select locations will generally be expected to follow a hybrid work model, which includes two days of in-office attendance each week, with limited exceptions."

Meet the Team

Join our dynamic and strategic Incubation, Data & AI (IDA) Legal team. This role is an exciting opportunity to join our growing team and provide critical legal support to Outshift by Cisco. Outshift is Cisco's emerging technology incubation engine and advanced innovation organization, with a core mission to explore, research, build, and bring "Shift-Left" and "Shift-Ahead" technologies to market before they hit mainstream adoption. Outshift leads Cisco's exploration and development of quantum networking technologies, under the umbrella of Cisco Research, and also includes the Open Source Program Office (OSPO). In this role, you will also provide legal support to Cisco's Enterprise AI Platforms & Infrastructure team, which leads Cisco's enterprise AI applications like CIRCUIT and MyAgent.

Your Impact

  • You will serve as a key legal partner to fast-paced, dynamic incubation teams, focused on building and graduating (or otherwise offloading) truly innovative projects at Cisco.
  • You will provide valuable, dynamic legal guidance to teams as they collaborate and partner with third parties to ideate, build, prototype, and evolve emerging technologies.
  • You will help ensure compliance by design, working cross-functionally within and outside of Legal.
  • You will work with other Legal subject-matter experts to provide agile legal guidance on a range of issues, including joint development and partnerships, regulatory risk, IP and patent protection, data governance and privacy, and AI ethics and risk.
  • You will provide clear and actionable guidance on complex business and legal issues.
  • You will leverage and deploy AI to accelerate and streamline guidance to the business teams you support.
  • You will enable clients to internally deploy, launch, and graduate innovations in a way that builds trust with users and meets your clients' innovative velocity.


Minimum Qualifications

  • Education & Experience: Juris Doctor (JD) with 8+ years of experience in a law firm or in-house legal department.
  • Subject Matter Expertise: Demonstrated experience in product counseling, technology law and transactions, and IP licensing.
  • Analytical Rigor: Ability to synthesize complex, ambiguous regulatory landscapes into clear, business-centric advice.
  • Communication: Exceptional drafting and negotiation skills with the ability to translate nuanced technical and legal concepts into actionable guidance for executives and engineers.


Preferred Qualifications

  • Specialized Experience: Experience serving as a legal counsel to dynamic and fast-paced product teams; general familiarity with open source legal issues, research agreements, brand protection and marketing issues.
  • Intellectual Property: Background in IP and/or patent law.
  • Certifications: External AI governance, privacy, or security certifications (e.g., AIGP, CIPP, CISSP).
  • Team Dynamics: Experience working optimally in cross-functional, global teams.
  • Adaptability: A proactive, "builder" mindset; comfortable working in a rapidly evolving environment.


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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