Network Apprentice Jobs in Cary, NC (NOW HIRING)

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.

Meet the team

We are a team dedicated to helping our customers navigate the constantly evolving world of AI security. We work together to ensure our clients optimally integrate Cisco AI Defense and our broader security suite into their operations. We grow with multi-functional collaboration-partnering with Sales, Product, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations to tackle real-world problems. We value input from every team member, and we look to you to help us present insights to leadership, refine our processes, and deliver high-impact projects that keep AI applications and autonomous agents secure.

Your impact

In this role, you will play a pivotal part in ensuring our customers can confidently secure their AI infrastructure. You will

• Guide customers through the onboarding process, helping them get up and running with our AI security portfolio.

• Translate technical details into clear business outcomes, showing customers exactly how our solutions protect their investments.

• Champion the customer's perspective in our internal meetings, ensuring their feedback develop how we build and deliver our services.

• Stay ahead of the curve by tracking shifts in the AI landscape and sharing those insights with the team.

• Improve how we work by spotting process gaps and helping us build more efficient ways to support our customers.

Minimum qualifications

• Meet one of the following (completed within the past 3 years or expected to be completed within the next 12 months ):

• A Master's degree with 0 years of work experience ; or

• A Bachelor's degree with 2 years of work experience ; or

• An educational or workforce development program (e.g., Associate's, Apprenticeship, Boot camp, or Certification) with 3 years of work experience ; or

• A High school diploma (or equivalent) with 4 years of work experience.

Relevant fields include Bachelor's degree in information systems, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field

• AI Knowledge: Hands-on familiarity with AI agents and Large Language Models (LLMs).

• Security Foundation: A working understanding of cybersecurity principles.

• Analytical Skills: Ability to grasp networking concepts and use data to solve problems.

• Communication: Demonstrable ability to explain technical ideas clearly to both technical teams and business leaders.

• Mindset: A proactive, self-starting approach and a genuine curiosity for AI innovation.

Preferred qualifications

• Technical Depth: Knowledge of programming (e.g., Python, R, C++), API integrations, Model Context Protocol (MCP), application development, CI/CD pipelines, and networking.

• Tooling: Experience with AI development tools like Claude Code, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, OpenAI Codex, Cursor, or GitHub Copilot.

• Certifications: AWS Certified AI Practitioner, CISSP, Security+, Network+, CCNA Automation, CCNA Security, or Cisco AITECH.

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.

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:

$94,200.00 - $137,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$85,700.00 - $124,500.00

• 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.