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Cisco Entry Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Director, Product Management

San Jose, CA · On-site

$230K - $325K/yr

Meet the Team Outshift is Cisco's incubation engine, dedicated to exploring ambitious, innovative ... Demonstrated experience in early-stage product incubation or "zero to one" market entry.

Meet the Team Outshift is Cisco's incubation engine, dedicated to exploring ambitious, innovative ... Demonstrated experience in early-stage product incubation or "zero to one" market entry.

Meet the Team Outshift is Cisco's incubation engine, dedicated to exploring ambitious, innovative ... Demonstrated experience in early-stage product incubation or "zero to one" market entry.

Meet the Team Outshift is Cisco's incubation engine, dedicated to exploring ambitious, innovative ... Demonstrated experience in early-stage product incubation or "zero to one" market entry.

Meet the Team Outshift is Cisco's incubation engine, dedicated to exploring ambitious, innovative ... Demonstrated experience in early-stage product incubation or "zero to one" market entry.

Required : • Basic knowledge of Linux (Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat) • Familiarity with VMware or virtualization technologies • Understanding of networking concepts and Cisco devices • Exposure to ...

Infrastructure engineer

Auburn, CA · On-site

$115K - $151K/yr

Implementation Troubleshooting related to Cisco Wireless * Configuring policies IP Sec VPN DHCP pools host entry SSLVPN settingsSSLVPN portals in Firewalls * Responsible for Providing L2L3 ...

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Cisco Entry information

See salary details

$21.5K

$78.3K

$164.5K

How much do cisco entry jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for cisco entry in the United States is $78,314.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39,500.00 and $112,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Cisco entry-level network engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cisco Entry-level Network Engineer, you need a solid understanding of networking fundamentals, TCP/IP, and basic troubleshooting, often supported by a CCNA certification. Familiarity with Cisco routers, switches, network management tools, and command-line interfaces is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you excel in diagnosing and resolving network issues. These skills are essential to ensure reliable network performance and to support the technological infrastructure of organizations.

What is the difference between Cisco Entry vs Network Technician?

AspectCisco EntryNetwork Technician
CertificationsCCNA, Cisco-specific certificationsCompTIA Network+, CCNA often preferred
Work EnvironmentPrimarily Cisco network devices and solutionsVarious network hardware and vendors
Employer & IndustryTelecommunications, IT service providers, Cisco partnersIT departments, telecom, enterprise networks
Search & Comparison IntentEntry-level Cisco network rolesGeneral network support roles

While both roles involve network support, Cisco Entry focuses specifically on Cisco devices and solutions, often requiring Cisco certifications like CCNA. Network Technicians may work with a broader range of hardware and vendors, with certifications like CompTIA Network+ being common. Cisco Entry roles are typically found in organizations using Cisco infrastructure, whereas Network Technicians support diverse network environments across various industries.

What is a Cisco entry-level job?

A Cisco Entry-level job typically refers to positions at Cisco Systems that are designed for recent graduates or individuals with limited professional experience in the technology industry. These roles often include job titles such as Network Engineer, Technical Support Engineer, or Associate Systems Engineer. Employees in these positions receive on-the-job training and mentorship to help them develop skills in networking, security, and Cisco technologies. Entry-level jobs at Cisco are a great way to start a career in IT, as they provide valuable exposure to industry-leading products and solutions. Successful candidates often have a background in computer science, engineering, or related fields, and may hold certifications like the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).

What are some common challenges faced by Cisco entry-level employees in their first year, and how can they overcome them?

Cisco Entry-level employees often encounter challenges such as adapting to a fast-paced, technology-driven environment and learning to use Cisco’s proprietary tools and systems. Navigating complex networking concepts and collaborating with experienced team members can feel overwhelming initially. To overcome these challenges, new hires are encouraged to actively participate in Cisco’s mentorship programs, take advantage of on-the-job training, and communicate openly with their teams. Building strong relationships and seeking feedback can help accelerate learning and integration into the company culture.
More about Cisco Entry jobs
What cities are hiring for Cisco Entry jobs? Cities with the most Cisco Entry job openings:
What states have the most Cisco Entry jobs? States with the most job openings for Cisco Entry jobs include:
Infographic showing various Cisco Entry job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 7% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $78,314 per year, or $37.7 per hour.

Director, Product Management

Cisco

San Jose, CA • On-site

$230K - $325K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago


Cisco Systems rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 42 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

58th of 157 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

The application window is expected to close on:

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

Meet the Team

Outshift is Cisco's incubation engine, dedicated to exploring ambitious, innovative ideas and experimenting with technologies that shape the future. Our team is a diverse, distributed group of experts passionate about the "zero to one" journey-taking groundbreaking technology like Quantum and AI from research to enterprise-ready solutions. We value rapid iteration, "failing fast," and solving the hardest problems at the forefront of the tech landscape.

Your Impact

If you are a dual-natured leader who can shift between technical deep-dives and high-level financial/market strategy, this is a great opportunity! We function as a high-agility startup within the Cisco ecosystem, focusing on the 12-to-60-month innovation horizon. You will influence senior leadership and help steer the direction of our incubation portfolio. As the Director of Product Management, you will lead the strategy for emerging technologies including quantum networking and cryptography. You will serve as the central resource for market analysis, evaluating startup ecosystems and venture capital trends to inform Cisco's investment and product roadmap. You will drive the early-stage conceptualization process, collaborating with research and engineering to define product-market fit.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree + 15 years of related experience supporting technical product development and delivery
  • Demonstrated experience in early-stage product incubation or "zero to one" market entry.
  • Confirmed background in venture capital or financial market analysis.
  • Proven experience and deep familiarity with quantum technologies and markets.
  • 4+ years of supervisory or leadership experience working directly with infrastructure technology teams.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience working in a startup or high-growth scale-up environment.
  • Strong network within the AI and Quantum research communities.
  • Ability to perform competitive analysis using tools like PitchBook, CB Insights, or Crunchbase.
  • Experience with Hyperscaler technologies.
  • The ability to thrive in highly ambiguous, constantly evolving environments.
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 $230,100.00 to $325,300.00 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 ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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:

$230,100.00 - $374,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$216,500.00 - $337,000.00

* 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.

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


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About Cisco Systems

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Cisco Systems, a global tech titan based in San Jose, CA, US, operates in the information technology and services industry. Founded in 1984, the company was derived from a project between two computer scientists from Stanford University. They aimed to connect different networks of computer systems at the university, resulting in the first multi-protocol router, and subsequently, the birth of Cisco. As an industry-leading manufacturer of networking hardware and telecommunications equipment, Cisco's product and services range includes routers, switches, firewall devices, and telecommunication technology. The company's mission, "to shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors, and ecosystem partners," is a testament to its pursuit of technology-forward innovation and customer satisfaction.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Jose, CA, US

Year founded

1984

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