Lead Data Scientist - AI Defense Team - San Jose, CA

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  • Location:
    San Jose, California, US
  • Area of Interest
    Engineer - Software
  • Compensation Range
    207700 USD - 264000 USD
  • Job Type
    Professional
  • Technology Interest
    AI or Artificial Intelligence
  • Job Id
    1438892

 Meet the Team  

The mission AI Defense at Cisco is to provide end-to-end protection for Enterprise AI application. The team has deep expertise in AI and security and is an active contributor to cutting edge research and standards on AI and security. At Cisco, our mission is to build AI Security at Cisco scale as well as lead the next generation of AI infrastructure for disruptive security products across Cisco. We are pioneers in all aspects of AI security from supply chain to development time model vulnerability detection to protecting against real time attacks on deployed AI applications.   

Your Impact  

Join Cisco's AI Defense ML Team and be at the forefront of AI Security innovation.  

Here, you will tackle ever-evolving challenges and leverage the dynamic AI landscape to craft solutions that ensure AI safety and security for all. As a Data Scientist, you'll have the chance to design the data platform driving cutting-edge ML algorithms that detect and protect against AI security risks. You'll gain deep expertise in the fields of both AI and security, engaging with all facets of detection techniques and their deployment in production environments. You will collaborate with a talented team of ML engineers, and security experts, and play a pivotal role in developing groundbreaking AI solutions. Shape the future of AI safety and Security with us and make an enduring impact on AI adoption across the world! 

 

As a Lead Data Scientist, you will. 

  • Lead a team of Data scientists on various data science and discovery projects. 

  • Lead collaborations with Threat Intelligence, log analysis and ML teams to identify AI threat and risk patterns to inform ML model improvements.  
    Analyze customer telemetry logs to identify patterns of failure and active threat hunting, convert them into actionable insights for the ML team.  

  • Build high quality evaluation datasets, conduct FP/FN analysis on existing ML models using these datasets, and help devise model improvement strategies  

  • Conduct analysis of training dataset quality, identify low quality data clusters, build de-duplication algorithms to continually improve ML performance by improving training data quality. 

  • Explore data generation strategies for textual and multi-modal data for AI Defense use cases. 

  • Design Scalable pipelines for large semi-structured data using advanced distributed cloud data warehouse technologies. 

  • You'll have the opportunity to contribute to our overall machine learning and data management culture as a member of the team. 

  

Minimum Qualifications (Provide up to five (5) bullet points - these should be clearly defined, objective, non-comparative, relevant, and quantifiable to appropriately evaluate applicants – not including soft skills):  

  • A BS with 7 years / MS with 4 / Phd with 2 years in Computer Science/Engineering. 

  • Strong background in one of the following areas, Machine learning, Statistical data analysis, Math or software development on distributed systems.  

  • Strong programming skills in generic programming languages such as Python or Golang. 

  • SQL proficiency for complex data transformations and querying, strong understanding of semi-structured data handling. 

 

  

Preferred Qualifications (Provide up to five (5) bullet points:  these can include soft skills) 

  • An attitude of hands-on learning and constant experimentation to decompose and understand problem areas.  

  • Comfortable with fast iterative style development in an environment that requires autonomous thinking, risk taking and bias for action. 

  • Familiarity with modern data warehousing technologies like Snowflake/databricks and data formats like Snowpark/Iceberg 

  • Ability to use the latest GenAI technologies and creative prompting. Comfortable with traditional ML frameworks like pytorch, TensorFlow, FastAI etc... 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 

  

#WeAreCisco (This is the Standard and cannot be changed) 

#WeAreCisco where every individual brings their unique skills and perspectives together to pursue our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.  

  

Our passion is connection—we celebrate our employees’ diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.  

 

We understand our outstanding opportunity to bring communities together and at the heart of that is our people. One-third of Cisconians collaborate in our 30 employee resource organizations, called Inclusive Communities, to connect, foster belonging, learn to be informed allies, and make a difference. Dedicated paid time off to volunteer—80 hours each year—allows us to give back to causes we are passionate about, and nearly 86% do!  

  

Our purpose, driven by our people, is what makes us the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Helping our customers reimagine their applications, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals is what we do best. We ensure that every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive future for all. Take your next step and be you, with us!   

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.

Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday. Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period. Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations. All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter.  Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours. Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind. All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. 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 up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

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