Director, Cisco Silicon - Product Manager: AI Switching 

The application window is expected to close on: 03/10/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received. Meet the Team The team is composed of cross-functional experts from Cisco Silicon, optics, software, and systems groups collaborating closely with hyperscaler customers and partners. Together, they drive innovation in AI switching silicon solutions, focusing on large-scale AI network infrastructure for hyperscaler networks, ensuring Cisco leads in AI networking technology. Your Impact As the lead Product Definition Manager for Cisco Silicon’s AI Switching silicon segment, you will drive cross-functional requirements for next-generation silicon and system-inspired solutions targeting large-scale AI network infrastructure for hyperscaler networks. Your expertise in AI workloads, network requirements, and AI rack system dynamics will be essential to meet modern architectural demands. Lead AI Network Silicon Segment Definition: Drive requirements for system-inspired silicon solutions for large-scale hyperscaler AI networks. Orchestrate multi-disciplinary collaboration across silicon, optics, software, and systems to integrate cohesive switching fabric solutions. Market & Customer Insight Strategy: Build trusted relationships with hyperscaler customers and partners. Lead market sensing and competitive analysis. Inspire Technical Vision & Action: Challenge and inspire network technologists and architects. Foster timely collaborative problem-solving for the industry's most complex AI networking challenges. Manage Product Definition Stage-Gate: Oversee the full product definition lifecycle for AI network solutions, ensuring rigorous decision-making and readiness. Develop Strategic Business Cases: Establish robust business cases for new product investments, linking technical requirements to market opportunity, financial projections, and competitive advantage. Cultivate Thought Leadership: Shape Cisco’s vision for AI networking silicon segments. Influence industry partners and standards, positioning Cisco as a leader in the domain. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field with 15+ years defining winning products, architectures, or systems within large-scale AI networking, cloud infrastructure, or AI silicon solutions. Experience with AI workloads, AI data center architectures, network architectures, routing/switching, fabric designs, distributed systems, network performance, programmability, and advanced interconnects. Prior experience in leading product definition cycles and managing stage-gate processes. Experience engaging with industry partners, conducting competitive analysis, and working within environments such as network operators, cloud service providers, or network silicon suppliers. Preferred Qualifications MBA or advanced degree preferred. Prior experience integrating market, technology, and business signals into actionable, prioritized product and system roadmaps. Experience influencing at all organizational levels, inspiring technologists, driving complex visions, and aligning diverse stakeholders around shared objectives. Current knowledge of the latest networking technologies and ecosystem trends. Why Cisco? At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really bi ... (truncated, view full listing at source)