Security Engineer I

Cisco is seeking an early-career Security Engineer to support applied security research and engineering focused on advancing how AI is built and used securely across Cisco. The role includes routine security assignments, testing and tooling, threat modeling for AI-native capabilities, and applying Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle and responsible-AI practices.

Role Overview

In this onsite position in Research Triangle Park, NC, you will work under guidance to perform routine security engineering tasks, contribute to security validation efforts, and document evidence and results. The work supports applied security research and engineering that improves security outcomes for AI systems and AI features used at Cisco.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute routine, well-defined security engineering assignments using established practices and procedures with detailed guidance.
• Support vulnerability and risk assessments, security code reviews, validation testing, remediation, and security-hardening activities.
• Assist with threat models for AI-native features such as RAG, tool use, agentic workflows, and MCP integrations, including risks like prompt injection, data poisoning, excessive agency, and supply-chain risks.
• Run defined adversarial tests and evaluations, record evidence and results, and escalate complex or unexpected findings.
• Contribute basic Python tooling, evaluation cases, guardrails, and automated security checks under review, including integration into Secure Development Lifecycle and CI/CD workflows.
• Support data-protection and human-oversight controls for AI systems, including sensitive-data handling, review, approval, and accountability.
• Contribute to threat research, reusable patterns, and technical write-ups; communicate findings and participate in security design reviews and incident-response activities.

Required Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (completed within the past 3 years or expected within the next 12 months).
• Qualifying education and work experience should be in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Foundational knowledge of security engineering, software development, AI/ML, or applied research gained through education, internships, projects, or equivalent practical work.
• Working knowledge of Python and ability to develop and test basic scripts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework, projects, or a portfolio demonstrating applied experience in software, product, or AI/ML security.
• Familiarity with secure software development, vulnerability management, threat modeling, adversarial testing, or AI security evaluations.
• Familiarity with LLM security risks and frameworks, including prompt injection, RAG and agentic-system risks, OWASP LLM/Agentic Top 10, MITRE ATLAS, or NIST AI RMF.
• Exposure to AI red-team or evaluation tooling, such as Cisco AI Defense or NVIDIA’s Garak, and related CI/CD, MCP, or AI development workflows.

Technologies

• Python
• CI/CD
• RAG
• MCP
• OWASP LLM/Agentic Top 10
• MITRE ATLAS
• NIST AI RMF
• Cisco AI Defense
• NVIDIA’s Garak

Team and Impact

Within Cisco’s Security& Trust Organization (S), the mission is to secure products and services, protect Cisco and its employees, and cultivate trust with customers, partners, and regulators. This team focuses on securing the software delivery lifecycle through innovative CI/CD pipeline design and enhancement, operating at the intersection of security, automation, and AI-enabled DevSecOps. You will partner closely with software engineering and platform teams to help deliver secure, scalable, and efficient software delivery solutions.

As an early-career Security Engineer, you will support applied security research and engineering that advances secure AI development and usage across Cisco. Under guidance, you will perform routine security assignments, run defined tests and experiments, contribute to basic security tooling, and document evidence and findings. You will also apply established Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle, security, and responsible-AI practices to help engineering teams identify and reduce risk.

Compensation and Location Details

• Location: Research Triangle Park, NC (onsite)
• Salary range: USD 94,800 - 157,400 per year
• State-based full salary ranges:
  • New York City Metro Area: $107,800.00 - $157,400.00
  • Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $94,800.00 - $140,000.00*

*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.

Individual pay is determined by hiring location, market conditions, and job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. For locations not listed, a recruiter can share additional compensation details during the hiring process.

Benefits

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
• 1 paid day off for an 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 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
• Exempt employees participate in a flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit (subject to availability and some business limitations)
• 80 hours of sick time on the hire date and each January 1st thereafter, with up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward to the next calendar year
• 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
• U.S. benefits may include medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution; paid parental leave; short and long-term disability coverage; and basic life insurance (subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules)
• Employees may be eligible for grants of Cisco restricted stock units that vest following continued employment for defined periods
• For non-sales roles, employees may be eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies

Minimum and Location Requirements Summary

• Minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s degree completed within the last 3 years or expected within 12 months, relevant education/work experience, foundational security and software or AI/ML knowledge, and working knowledge of Python for basic scripts.
• This role is listed as onsite in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Additional Applicant Note (U.S. and/or Canada)

For applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada, individual pay is determined by hiring location, market conditions, and job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. For locations not listed, the recruiter can share further compensation details during the hiring process.