AI Researcher PhD

Position: AI Researcher PhD (Full Time) United States
Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.

Applications are accepted until further notice.

** Meet the Team*
* At Foundation AI, we are building the Frontier AI Research Lab  goal is to advance frontier AI research and translate it into purpose-built internal models, agentic systems, and security-focused capabilities that serve Cisco and the larger community. You will collaborate with researchers, engineers, and cross-functional partners across data, platform, security, evaluation, and deployment teams.

** Your Impact*
* As an AI Researcher, you will work at the forefront of building agentic models and autonomous systems. Your research will span the full model lifecycle: data pipelines, training harnesses, evaluation harnesses, model architecture, post-training and optimization, inference, and deployment. You will advance frontier AI research by augmenting frontier models with purpose-built internal models and open-source models that we release for the larger community.

This role also focuses on security applications, helping Foundation AI establish thought leadership in security-specific models and robust agentic systems. You will investigate new architectures, new training approaches, optimization methods, and interpretability techniques, then turn research insight into reliable systems through rigorous experimentation, measurement, and collaboration.

** Minimum Qualifications*
* + Recent graduate or in your final year of studies toward a PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related field.

+ Understanding of LLM infrastructure, training, inference, and optimization, validated by technical interview responses, project documentation, or relevant publications.

+ Hands-on experience with model building, AI/LLM research, and experimentation, demonstrated through portfolio work, code samples, technical assessments, or documented academic or professional projects.

** Preferred Qualifications*
* + Experience working with inference engines (e.g., vLLM, Triton, Torch Serve).

+ Knowledge of GPU architecture and optimization.

+ Familiarity with agent frameworks.

+ Exposure to cloud native solutions and platforms.

+

Experience with cybersecurity principles and Python programming, including common AI libraries.

+ Familiarity with distributed systems and asynchronous programming models.

** 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 big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

** Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:*
* Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco's plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to…