In this Principal Machine Learning Engineering role at Cisco Systems, you will work in a forward-deployed model that places engineering capabilities directly in customer environments. The goal is to prototype and transition AI platform functionality from research to production, while validating product-market fit using verified, data-driven usage signals.

Based in San Jose, CA with a hybrid work arrangement, this position combines technical leadership with hands-on systems building across networking and security focused AI initiatives.

Role summary

Embed with customers to observe real workflows, surface friction points, and rapidly prototype AI platform capabilities.
Move solutions from research to code, ensuring prototypes are production-ready through hardening.
Help drive adoption by partnering with Product Management on usage metrics that reflect real engagement.
Collaborate with core engineering to transition prototypes into secure, multi-tenant, scalable services for Cisco’s global customer base.

Responsibilities

Deploy into high-impact customer environments to understand complex workflows, identify friction points, and validate product-market fit with rapid prototypes.
Lead research-to-code initiatives using deep networking and security domain expertise, with a focus on production hardening.
Partner with Product Management to drive verified usage metrics so that high-priority features align with actual engagement data.
Collaborate with core engineering to transition prototypes into secure, multi-tenant, scalable services serving Cisco’s worldwide customers.
Serve as an internal industry expert, translating customer challenges into elegant, scalable software solutions and influencing technical leadership and product strategy.
Promote a customer-first engineering mindset within the AI Platform group, coaching teams on rapid iteration, minimizing silos, and maintaining high velocity while meeting enterprise compliance standards.

Requirements

Education and experience: PhD in STEM (or equivalent related work experience) with 8+ years of relevant experience; or alternatively, Bachelor’s in STEM with 15+ years of relevant experience; or Master’s in STEM with 12+ years of relevant experience.
Experience building and operating scalable, highly distributed multi-tenant systems with strict isolation and security boundaries.
Experience building external-facing developer platforms or infrastructure-focused products.
End-to-end system design experience, including observability, failure handling, and ergonomics; plus implementation experience for complex authorization models such as RBAC, ABAC, or policy-based enforcement.

Benefits

Medical, dental and vision insurance
401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
Paid parental leave
Short and long-term disability coverage
Basic life insurance
Paid holidays: 10 per full calendar year plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
Non-exempt employees: 16 days of paid vacation per full calendar year (accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees)
Exempt employees: flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit on how much vacation eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
80 hours sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, with up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward
Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies
Grants of Cisco restricted stock units, vesting following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods (may be eligible)

About the team

AI Platform Group, Office of the CTO: Forward Deployed Engineering for Cisco’s AI-native portfolio.
Mission: accelerate adoption of Cloud Control, AI Canvas, AI Studio, and AI Defense through a high-velocity, customer-led “skunkwork” model.
Operates as Product Market Fit (PMF) Pathfinders, embedding with customers to understand operations and actual usage.
Experimentalists and prototype builders who ship, measure, and prove value through direct, real-time code deployment.

Compensation and timeline

Salary range: USD 263,700 - 431,000 per year
Application window close expected: 10/18/2026
State-specific full salary ranges:
- New York City Metro Area: $296,300.00 - $431,000.00
- Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $263,700.00 - $383,500.00

How Cisco sets pay (U.S. and/or Canada application notice)

The posted starting salary range for this role is $296,300.00 to $374,800.00 (projected salary range for new hires in U.S. and/or Canada locations, excluding incentive compensation, equity, or benefits).
Pay is determined by hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training.

Location

San Jose, CA (hybrid)

Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Job Description