Product Manager - Optical Networking for AI
Cisco
The application window is expected to close on: Aug 30th 2025
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received
Meet the Team:
At Cisco, we are committed to powering an inclusive future for all. We bring outstanding people together to connect everything—people, processes, data, and things—and make a difference everywhere by crafting opportunity, security, and sustainability.
As part of our team, you will work in a fast-paced and collaborative environment where your ideas will help shape the future of networking.
Your Impact:
As a Product Manager for AI in Optical Networking, you will play a pivotal role in shaping Cisco’s next-generation optical-networking solutions. You'll work at the intersection of advanced technology and real-world customer needs, driving innovation in AI optical connectivity solutions for cloud, hyperscale, and service provider environments.
Key Responsibilities:
- Define and drive the product roadmap for optical networking solutions for AI WAN connectivity.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, sales, and marketing, to bring innovative products to market.
- Engage with customers and industry partners to capture insights, identify trends, and ensure our solutions address emerging needs.
- Support go-to-market strategies and ensure successful product launches.
- Act as a proponent of automation and software-based approaches for enhanced operational efficiency.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Detailed understanding of optical networking technologies, including coherent transceivers, optical transmission design (EDFA and Raman amplifiers), ROADM and / or optical add-drop architectures, and fiber types.
- Knowledge of cloud, hyperscale, and / or AI architectures.
- Expertise in software basics, operating systems, and/or automation tools/processes.
- Demonstrated ability in optical networking, AI, cloud, or related fields.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelors + 12 years of related experience, or Masters + 8 years of related experience
- Product management experience is preferred.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- A passion for innovation and staying ahead of industry trends.
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. Simply put – we power the future.
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.
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.