Distinguished Software Engineer (Remote)

The application window is expected to close on: 10/19/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

This is a remote position in the USA.

Meet the Team

You will join Cisco’s Security and Policy Platform Group, a foundational organization responsible for transforming Cisco’s Security products from single point products to comprehensive security outcomes, as a Distinguished Engineer. The team delivers secure, scalable capabilities enabling customers to control and security policies across Cisco and third-party products. 

This work spans cloud and client infrastructure, security, policy and networking, with a strong emphasis on reliability, interoperability, and long-term scalability!

Your Impact

• Innovate, develop, and drive industry-leading software, hardware, and technology solutions with global impact across Cisco’s product portfolio.
• Serve as a recognized internal and external thought leader, influencing industry direction through technical expertise, innovation, and execution.
• Act as a cross-domain technology leader, translating emerging technology trends into strategic advantage for Cisco.
• Define and drive the long-term technical vision and architecture for platform and policy systems while influencing senior leadership and technical communities.
• Establish and uphold engineering and architectural standards that guide multiple organizations and product lines.
• Drive company-wide technology strategy aligned to long-term business outcomes and market leadership.
• Anticipate and develop industry trends, positioning Cisco at the forefront of policy and security innovation.
• Translate sophisticated technologies into scalable platform strategies and business opportunities across Cisco’s portfolio.
• Lead highly complex, cross-functional initiatives spanning multiple business units from concept through delivery.
• Mentor and influence senior and principal engineers, elevating technical leadership and architectural consistency across teams.
• Represent Cisco externally through industry forums, standards bodies, patents, publications, and strategic partnerships.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 15+ years of related experience, Master’s degree with 12+ years of related experience, or PhD with 10+ years of related experience designing and developing large-scale software, platform, or distributed systems.
• Experience defining and influencing architecture and technical strategy across multiple teams, organizations, or product lines.
• 10+ years of experience in policy, platform, or security systems, or demonstrated success operating as a cross-domain technology leader.
• 8+ years of experience building and scaling highly available, secure, and distributed systems in cloud or hybrid environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of driving company-wide or industry-level technical impact across large, sophisticated organizations.
• Recognized industry leadership through patents, publications, conference speaking, or contributions to standards bodies.
• Experience defining and driving platform or policy strategy at enterprise or industry scale.
• Deep understanding of security, policy, privacy, and data protection principles within large-scale platform systems.
• Experience integrating across platform services such as observability, data platforms, AI/ML systems, and security infrastructure.
• Track record of leading highly complex, multi-functional initiatives with significant business impact.
• Experience influencing senior leadership, including executives, on technical direction and business strategy.
• Strong ability to align diverse stakeholders and drive consensus across large, matrixed organizations.
• Proven track record to translate emerging technology trends into long-term strategic direction and measurable business outcomes.

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:The starting salary range posted for this position is $293,900.00 to $406,800.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

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 discover more benefits and perks.  Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and 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

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$293,900.00 - $467,900.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$285,600.00 - $432,300.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.