Phd Program Manager Jobs in Houston, TX (NOW HIRING)

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

Meet the Team

Security Engineering is shaping the future of secure software at Cisco - building security that scales and empowers developers. We own a suite of security services that operate at the intersection of engineering, cloud, and AI to help teams build securely by design. Our Program Management Office is the engine that turns that ambition into predictable, measurable delivery across engineering teams and partners, driving our most consequential security commitments. Here, you'll have an outstanding opportunity to take on groundbreaking security challenges to protect Cisco and its customers.

Your Impact

Lead complex, large-scale security programs that span multiple functions, run on multi-year horizons, and shape business direction - executing with accountability and delivering measurable results. Lead the execution strategy and delivery plans for resilient CI/CD, software supply chain security, cloud security initiatives, and AI-enabled security services. Synthesize program status and complex risks into clear narratives to inform executive decisions behind major security commitments. Champion a customer-first approach for the engineering teams you serve - partnering with Product and Engineering Managers to drive adoption, elevate service quality, and minimize friction so developers across Cisco can build securely with ease. Strengthen program management practices and standards to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery across the organization's portfolio.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 12+ years of related experience, Master's with 8+ years, or PhD with 5+ years.
• Experience leading multiple large-scale, sophisticated, cross-functional programs.
• Proficiency in leading program planning, scheduling, execution, and risk across diverse functions or regions.
• Consistent track record of owning program delivery autonomously with minimal direction and measurable impact.
• Solid Experience delivering programs in security engineering, cloud security, DevSecOps, or software platform security.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with modern software delivery concepts such as secure SDLC, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native architectures.
• Exposure to AI/ML-enabled engineering or security workflows.
• Professional program management certifications, such as a PMP.
• Strong relationship-building and executive communication skills.

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.

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:

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

* 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.