The application window is expected to close on: 08/14/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received .
Members of the Legal organization at select locations will generally be expected to follow a hybrid work model, which includes two days of in-office attendance each week, with limited exceptions.
Meet the Team
The legal team supporting Cisco's AI Software and Platform Group is a small but mighty collection of legal professionals dedicated to navigating ground breaking issues impacting Cisco's primary AI product and platform development organization. This Corporate Counsel will work with the Senior Corporate Counsel and others to support the company's business and technology partners responsible for guiding Cisco's development and go-to-market strategy throughout its primary AI product and platform offerings. Areas of focus will include, among others, AI Assistants, AI Defense products, Agentic-powered platforms, simplification and management of Cisco AI products across the portfolio, and development and incubation of new AI solutions.
Your Impact
We are looking for a highly motivated, solution-driven and tech-savvy attorney who is passionate about working in a dynamic, ground breaking environment and who will:
- Support the introduction of new AI products and solutions, helping to ensure production readiness and to building scalable product compliance strategies;
- Develop deep knowledge of Cisco's AI Software and Platform initiatives, products, processes, and go-to-market strategies; and develop close working relationships with the product management, engineering, operations, finance, sales and business development teams building and bringing AI products and solutions to market.
- Provide legal advice across emerging AI regulations and AI governance practices as well as intellectual property, regulatory and other market access issues, and transactional matters.
- Collaborate extensively and proactively with other legal professionals within Product Legal and SME organizations.
- Lead with problem solving, curiosity, drive, and thoughtfulness.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bar admission in any jurisdiction with good standing, with a minimum of 6+ years of relevant experience at a law firm and/or in-house (the ideal candidate will have both law firm and in-house experience.)
- Legal experience in software and cloud services industries, ideally with a recent emphasis on Artificial Intelligence. A background in computing infrastructure is helpful. Proven knowledge of intellectual property, regulatory and development issues germane to software and cloud services development and marketing.
- Outstanding contract negotiation and drafting skills, including experience negotiating complex licensing agreements and working with large customers and strategic partners.
- Ability to understand and synthesize complex issues, assess legal and business risk, and provide concise, plain English, business-focused advice.
Preferred Qualifications
- Tight-knit collaboration skills for close partnerships with business, technical, and Legal team members.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize, lead and deliver on simultaneous projects/deliverables under deadline pressure.
- Drive and commitment to supply to cross-functional initiatives across the Legal organization.
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 $178,900.00 to $226,400.00 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:
$214,800.00 - $312,400.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$190,800.00 - $277,500.00
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.
Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.
Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
