AI Software Engineering Tech Lead (AI Validation / AI Artifacts)

Job description

AI Software Engineering Tech Lead (AI Validation / AI Artifacts)

Apply (https://jobs.cisco.com/jobs/Login?projectId=1444951)

+ Location:San Jose, California, US
+ Alternate LocationSan Francisco, CA
+ Area of InterestEngineer - Software
+ Compensation Range212300 USD - 275800 USD
+ Job TypeProfessional
+ Technology InterestAI or Artificial Intelligence
+ Job Id1444951

**The application window for this role is expected to close on 10/31/2025.

However, the job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.**

**Meet the team**

The AI Defense team is a passionate and innovative group of experts dedicated to safeguarding AI systems and ensuring their safety, integrity, and robustness.

We are committed to staying at the forefront of the field, employing innovative techniques and strategies to tackle complex challenges.

As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the development and deployment of secure AI solutions that make a meaningful impact in industry, and for a better world.

**Your Impact**

+ Lead the design, development, and evolution of our AI validation platform, enabling secure and reliable deployment of AI systems.
+ Drive the creation and curation of AI artifacts including the AI validation prompt bank, AI security policies, AI taxonomies and more, supporting both AI validation workflows and broader AI product development.
+ Collaborate across engineering, security research, and product teams to establish robust frameworks for evaluating AI systems’ trustworthiness and resilience.
+ Provide technical leadership and mentorship within the team, establishing leading practices for development, testing, and artifact management.

**Minimum qualifications**

+ Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field and 6+ years of software engineering experience, or Master’s degree with 4+ years of experience.
+ Experience designing and building scalable cloud-based systems (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, Docker).
+ Proven experience in technical leadership, architecture design, and end-to-end feature ownership in AI/ML or platform domains.
+ Experience with API design and frameworks (e.g. OpenAPI, GraphQL, gRPC, REST, etc.)

**Preferred qualifications**

+ Exceptional problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex requirements and propose effective solutions.
+ Experience developing, deploying, and maintaining applications in AWS environment with cloud native solutions.
+ Experience designing or managing structured content like taxonomy systems, policy engines, or evaluation datasets.
+ Background in AI security, privacy, or model robustness (e.g., red teaming, DLP for LLMs, misuse detection).

**Why Cisco?**

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond.

We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds.

These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Simply put – we power the future.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions.

Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless.

We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale.

Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

#CiscoAIJobs

**Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:**

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits.

For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses.

Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training.

Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location.

The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees haveaccess (https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/careers/we-are-cisco/benefits-and-perks.html) to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.

Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday.

Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period.

Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations.

All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter.

Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours.

Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind.

All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues.

We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components.

For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

.75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay up to 125% of target.

Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.
Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.
Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Required Skill Profession

Other General