Data Scientist/Software Engineer

About The Company
Cisco Systems is a global leader in networking, cybersecurity, and digital transformation solutions. With a history of innovation spanning over four decades, Cisco is dedicated to empowering organizations to connect, secure, and automate their digital infrastructure. The company’s extensive portfolio includes networking hardware, software, and services that enable seamless communication and data exchange across diverse industries. Cisco’s commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment has positioned it as a pioneer in technological advancements, particularly in AI, machine learning, and data infrastructure. As a company that values innovation, Cisco invests heavily in research and development to create solutions that address the evolving needs of its customers worldwide. Its global presence and focus on sustainable growth make Cisco an ideal place for professionals seeking to make a meaningful impact in the technology sector.
About The Role
This position offers an exciting opportunity to join Cisco’s AI and Data Infrastructure team as a Machine Learning Engineer. The role is remote, allowing you to collaborate with cross-functional teams across the globe. You will be instrumental in developing, deploying, and optimizing machine learning models aimed at enhancing Cisco’s optical hardware operations. Your work will involve designing predictive models to forecast optical module performance, identifying potential failures proactively, and applying advanced statistical techniques to validate model accuracy. You will extract and transform large datasets from production databases, perform feature engineering, and implement state-of-the-art AI/ML solutions, including large language models, to analyze complex manufacturing processes. Your contributions will directly impact supply chain decisions, operational efficiency, and product quality. This role emphasizes innovative thinking, secure coding practices, and continuous learning to stay at the forefront of AI advancements. You will partner with hardware, product, and engineering teams to ensure technical solutions meet business needs and deliver measurable value, all while fostering a culture of collaboration and technical excellence.
Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field with 7+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with 4+ years, or PhD with 1+ year.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience developing and deploying machine learning models in production environments.
• Proficiency in Python programming language.
• Experience with major ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
• Hands-on experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI platforms like Hugging Face or OpenAI APIs.
• Strong SQL skills and experience with data transformation and manipulation.
• Knowledge of data cleaning, normalization, feature engineering, and statistical analysis.
• Up-to-date with the latest trends in AI/ML, including Foundation Models, Diffusion Models, and AutoML.
• Experience with MLOps tools such as MLflow, Kubeflow, Docker, or Kubernetes is preferred.
• Familiarity with cloud ML platforms like AWS SageMaker, Google Vertex AI, or Azure ML.
• Background in manufacturing, optical hardware, or IoT datasets is advantageous.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills to work effectively across teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy machine learning models to predict optical module performance and preempt failures.
• Extract and manipulate large datasets from production databases using SQL, ensuring data quality and integrity.
• Perform data cleaning, normalization, and feature engineering to prepare high-quality inputs for ML models.
• Implement and optimize LLM-based solutions for analyzing manufacturing line statistics and summarizing complex data.
• Create automated tools to assist project planning and supply chain decision-making processes.
• Collaborate closely with hardware, product, and engineering teams to understand technical requirements and ensure solutions align with business objectives.
• Stay current with emerging AI/ML technologies and integrate relevant advancements into ongoing projects.
• Apply rigorous statistical validation to ensure model robustness and reliability.
• Contribute to the development of scalable MLOps pipelines for continuous deployment and monitoring.
• Document technical solutions and share insights with team members and stakeholders effectively.

Benefits

• Competitive salary aligned with experience and market standards.
• Comprehensive health insurance including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.
• Paid parental leave and family support programs.
• Paid time off including holidays, vacation, sick leave, and personal days.
• Flexible work arrangements and remote work environment.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.
• Employee stock purchase plans and performance-based incentives.
• Access to a global network of experts and innovative projects.

Equal Opportunity
Cisco is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable law. We believe that diverse perspectives foster innovation and drive our success, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.