Machine Learning Engineer PhD (Full Time) - United States

Machine Learning Engineer PhD (Full Time) - United States

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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

Join our innovative engineering team focused on building next generation AI/ML solutions. You'll collaborate with skilled colleagues across platform, security, release engineering, and support teams to deliver high impact products and ensure their perfect operation.

Your Impact

Dive into the development and implementation of cutting edge generative AI applications using the latest large language models-think GPT 4, Claude, Llama, and beyond! Take on the challenge of optimizing neural networks for natural language processing and machine perception, drawing on a toolkit that includes convolutional and transformer based models, student teacher frameworks, distillation, and generative adversarial networks (GANs). Performance, scalability, and reliability are front and center as models are trained, fine tuned, and put through their paces for real world deployment.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role-work alongside talented engineers and cross functional teams to gather and prep data, design custom layers, and automate model deployment. Experimentation with new technologies and ongoing learning are always encouraged. Production ready code, robust testing, and creative problem solving all play a part in bringing innovative AI solutions to life. What an exciting place to grow and make an impact!

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.
• 3+ years of experience in backend development using Go or Python.
• Understanding of LLM infrastructure and optimization, validated by technical interview responses, project documentation, or relevant publications.
• Hands on experience with model building and AI/LLM research, 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, TorchServe).
• 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 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.

• 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

Seniority Level

Internship

Employment Type

Full time

Job Function

Engineering and Information Technology

Industry

Software Development

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