Principal AI/ML Engineer, Security AI

Position Overview

The Cisco Security AI team delivers AI products and platforms for all Cisco secure products and portfolios so businesses around the world can defend against threats and safeguard the most vital aspects of their business with security resilience. We are passionate about making businesses secure and simplifying security with zero compromise using AI and Machine Learning. As a Principal Engineer, you will have the incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning research and development. You will play a critical role in designing, implementing, and evolving our AI platforms and products. Your expertise will drive innovation and maintain our competitive edge in the market. As a director-level leader and individual contributor, you will be an integral part of the Security AI team, joining us at an early stage of the journey and responsible for leading the ideation, design, development, and testing phases of new products. As an authority in this domain, you bring strong technology experience, an eye for business, and recognized industry visibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead with technical and industry vision and act as a key contributor for our team strategy in the fields of AI and Data Science.
• Define and design AI-based solutions, evaluate technical feasibility and provide estimates on efforts and risks.
• Drive prototypes and MVP architecture and development to deliver innovative features and services that are consistent, maintainable, and highly scalable.
• Collaborate with multi-functional teams, including data scientists, software developers, product managers, and business stakeholders to define and achieve strategic objectives.
• Mentor and guide a team of AI engineers and data scientists, fostering an environment of technical excellence and continuous learning.
• Stay abreast of the latest developments in AI and ML and evaluate the potential impact of new technologies on our products and services.
• Drive the adoption of standard processes in coding, testing, documentation, and maintainability.
• Ensure the ethical use of AI, focusing on fairness, privacy, security, and transparency.
• Communicate complex AI concepts to non-technical audiences and provide thought leadership within the company and at industry events.
• Contribute to the creation of intellectual property through patents, publications, and presentations.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of Software Engineering experience, including roles as Director, CTO, Chief, or Principal Engineer for AI, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning solutions applied across various industry verticals and data modalities.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience using programming languages such as Python, Java, or C++ and familiarity with AI frameworks like Tensorflow, PyTorch, or Keras.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience focused on developing, training, and deploying AI models in real-world applications, including machine learning algorithms, deep learning architectures, and their underlying mathematical principles.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience with cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and ML deployment strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Understanding and hands-on experience in Large Language Models, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, Image Processing, and other generative AI techniques.
• Proven experience owning the development of AI-based products or systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to address complex issues.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Experience with building DataOps/MLOps workflows, infrastructure, and tooling.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and DevOps practices.
• Ability to coach and mentor other engineers, especially those early in their careers.
• A continuous drive to identify, adopt, and master innovative technologies in a fast-paced, team-focused environment.

Benefits & Perks

• Quality medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
• Short and long-term disability coverage.
• Basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.
• Up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, including one floating holiday and a day off for your birthday.
• Up to 20 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) annually, with additional leave for critical or emergency issues.
• Additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program.