Sr. Director, Software Engineering

Cisco • San Jose, CA

1d • $293,900 - $406,800 • Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Director of Software Engineering in our Cisco IQ Services engineering organization. This role is responsible for driving the technical strategy, operational excellence, and architectural integrity of our software services. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC) and a proven track record of scaling teams while maintaining high security and quality standards. You will be instrumental in integrating AI-driven tools to enhance developer productivity and operational efficiency.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in engineering management, with significant experience leading large, multi-functional teams at the Director level or above.
• Deep knowledge of modern SDLC, distributed systems, and cloud-native architecture.
• Proven experience running complex, mission-critical environments with a focus on high availability and performance.
• Demonstrated success working within or partnering with service-oriented organizations to deliver value to internal or external stakeholders.
• Experience implementing AI or automation strategies that have tangibly improved developer velocity or operational cost-efficiency.
• Outstanding ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and influence organizational change.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in high-scale enterprise environments.
• Deep understanding of DevSecOps practices and regulatory compliance.
• Track record of mentoring and developing engineering leadership talent.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership to multiple development and architecture teams, fostering a culture of high performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Define and optimize end-to-end software development processes to ensure consistent delivery, scalability, and compliance with industry standards.
• Embed security and quality assurance into the core of the development lifecycle, ensuring all platforms are resilient, secure, and performant.
• Lead the design and implementation of comprehensive observability frameworks to proactively manage complex environments and minimize downtime.
• Drive the adoption of AI-based tools and methodologies within development environments to accelerate release cycles, reduce technical debt, and optimize resource costs.
• Partner with service organization leaders to align engineering outputs with business objectives, ensuring seamless service delivery and support.
• Lead all aspects of architectural strategy, ensuring that systems are modular, scalable, and aligned with long-term business goals.

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 from one calendar year to the next
• 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)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed