Leader, Software Engineering

Cisco•San Jose, CA

1d•$183,800 - $303,100•Hybrid

About The Position

Cisco’s Security Business Group (SBG) is at the forefront of protecting the world’s most critical infrastructure. We are seeking a collaborative Engineering Manager to lead one of our Security Platform teams. This role involves leading cross-functional initiatives, driving clarity in ambiguous environments, leveraging technical expertise for architectural solutions, championing AI/ML integration, fostering a high-performance team culture, influencing cross-functional partners, managing risks, and communicating complex updates to senior leadership.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 3–5 years in a formal Engineering Management role leading high-performing, cross-functional teams.
Experience delivering large-scale Java/GoLang, Data Engineering, Data Streaming, ADLC cloud-native AWS, services.
Demonstrated deep technical fluency—beyond people management—to provide architectural oversight and design guidance.
Demonstrated hands-on experience building and integrating AI/ML solutions into software workflows, including a clear understanding of the associated risks.
Proven ability to successfully lead and deliver 2–3 complex, high-impact initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent practical experience).

Nice To Haves

Strong executive presence with the ability to synthesize complex technical updates for senior leadership and drive consensus across multiple cross-functional business units.

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional initiatives to define and implement unified policy outcomes across the SBG ecosystem.
Drive clarity in ambiguous environments by distilling complex security challenges into actionable plans, ensuring the team remains focused on measurable customer outcomes.
Leverage strong technical background and hands-on expertise to partner with Tech Leads, driving pragmatic, high-quality architectural solutions and collaborative decision-making.
Champion AI/ML integration into the platform workflow, utilizing demonstrated hands-on experience to design solutions that boost efficiency and remove delivery barriers.
Foster a culture of high performance, inclusivity, and continuous learning. Mentor engineers, manage career development, and attract top-tier talent to build a world-class platform team.
Partner with Product, UX, and SBG business units to translate policy requirements into technical strategies that drive platform adoption and achieve shared Cisco/SBG goals.
Proactively manage technical and project risks by navigating constant change and high-demand requirements through rigorous, continuous prioritization to ensure system stability and compliance.
Synthesize complex platform updates into clear, concise communications for senior leadership, representing engineering progress and strategic vision.

Benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance
a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
paid parental leave
short and long-term disability coverage
basic life insurance
grants of Cisco restricted stock units
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
paid year-end holiday shutdown
4 paid days off for personal wellness
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year (non-exempt)
flexible vacation time off program (exempt)
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward
Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
annual bonuses (for non-sales roles)
performance-based incentive pay (for sales roles)