> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/3702824-distinguished-software-engineer-ai-software-platform-hybrid](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/3702824-distinguished-software-engineer-ai-software-platform-hybrid). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Distinguished Software Engineer, AI Software & Platform (Hybrid)

- **Company:** Cisco Systems, Inc.
- **Location:** Milpitas, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $293,900.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Data Architecture, Distributed Systems, Software Engineering, Enterprise Software Applications, Large Language Models, Multi-Agent Systems, Agentic-AI, Information Technology, Model Context Protocol, Decoding, AIOps, Cisco
- **Published:** October 12, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.juju.com/job/1_cisco2-2022586

## About the Role

elevate the technical bar across the entire AI organization. + Personally lead the technical resolution of the most complex, high-risk "black box" challenges, prototyping and proving out breakthrough methodologies before company-wide commitment. + Own the security posture of agentic systems, including defenses against prompt injection, scoped tool-permissioning, and sandboxing for autonomous actions that carry write access to production systems. **Minimum Qualifications** + Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field with 17+ years of total software engineering experience; Master's with 14+ years; or PhD with 10+ years. + 10+ years of specialized experience in designing and scaling distributed systems, hyperscale cloud platforms, or high-throughput data architectures. + 5+ years in a Principal-level role (or equivalent) demonstrating sustained technical influence across multiple engineering organizations. + Experience building and operating LLM-based production
systems, including managing model lifecycle, evaluation infrastructure and security commitments. + Prior experience designing and delivering production-grade multi-agent system. **Preferred Qualifications** + Expertise in AIOps domains, specifically event correlation, root cause analysis, and closed-loop remediation at scale. + Deep knowledge of inference optimization techniques, including speculative decoding, KV/prefix caching, and model distillation/routing strategies. + Recognized thought leadership in the external technical community (e.g., patents, published research in top-tier journals/conferences, or significant open-source contributions). + Comprehensive understanding of global AI governance frameworks (e.g., NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act, ISO 42001) and experience operationalizing compliance in enterprise software. + Demonstrated ability to negotiate technical strategy and influence outcomes with executive-level stakeholders (VP/SVP level) and external industry

## Description

We are a central organization of researchers, ML engineers, and distributed systems experts dedicated to building the models, platforms, and products that integrate AI into every facet of the Cisco portfolio.
Our platform-including Cisco Cloud Control, Canvas, and Studio-is already live, providing a unified agentic surface for our global customer base.
We aren't just adopting AI; we are defining how enterprise networking and security infrastructure evolve to handle the unique challenges of agentic workflows at a worldwide scale. **Your Impact** As a Distinguished Software Engineer, you will serve as a primary technical architect and strategic advisor, shaping the future of Cisco's AI-first engineering roadmap.
Your work will transcend individual projects, requiring you to navigate high-ambiguity environments to establish the long-term technical vision for Cisco's agentic systems.
You will bridge the gap between emerging research and practical, reliable production implementation, ensuring that Cisco remains at the forefront of the industry's most critical market transitions. + Define and champion the enterprise-wide technical strategy for agentic systems, including multi-agent orchestration, planning/reflection loops, and durable execution patterns that operate with hyperscale reliability. + Negotiate critical build-versus-buy trade-offs at the executive level, influencing corporate-wide investment decisions regarding model frameworks, infrastructure roadmaps, and capability ceilings. + Drive the adoption of industry-standard interfaces, such as the Model Context Protocol (MCP), across Cisco's broad product portfolio to create a seamless, interoperable ecosystem for AI agents that can communicate across tools and across vendors + Establish and enforce rigorous engineering standards and reference architectures for AI, mentoring Principal and Senior staff to