"Alerted.org

Senior Design Researcher

Apply (https://jobs.cisco.com/jobs/Login?projectId=1451745)

+ Location:Offsite, San Jose, California, US

+ Area of InterestUser Experience Design

+ Compensation Range120000 USD- 221800 USD

+ Job TypeProfessional

+ Technology InterestAI or Artificial Intelligence, Security, Software Development

+ Job Id1451745

New

The application window is expected to close on October 27, 2025

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or ifa sufficient number ofapplications are received.

Meet the Team

Our design practice is a vibrant mosaic, made up of the curious and the brave — product designers, researchers, content designers, operations specialists, and design engineers — who thrive on collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Together,we’rebuilding a culture ofdesignexcellence and operational efficiency.

We focus on human needs, working closely with cross-functional partners to deliver impactful design solutions that address complex challenges. The products wedesignand build havereal resultsfor our customers because our users are at the heart of everything that we do. We work directly with users to build a deep understanding of their goals and context, and we explore anditerate onsolutions together.

Solving our customers’ security challenges through our focus on simplicity and effectiveness is why we show up daily — andit’swhy you should join us.

Your Impact

As a Senior Design Researcher,you’llbe part of the Security Design Research Team, while primarily supporting the AI Software & Platform team. In this role,you’lldrive a deep understanding of users to shape the future of Cisco’s security products and experiences across AI-powered solutions.Youwill:

+ Lead end-to-end qualitative and quantitative research—fromscoping and recruiting to analysis and delivery of insights.

+ Conductbothgenerative and evaluativeresearch to uncover the behaviors,motivationsand needs of our customers.

+ Inform product and design strategy through rigorous research executed to the highest standards.

+ Balance research rigor with scrappiness and innovation as you work alongside a fast-movingAI productand designteam.

+ Translate research into actionable insights, reports, journey maps, andeasily consumable artifacts.

+ Partnercloselywith designers, productmanagers, and engineers to influence decision-making across the product lifecycle.

+ Explore how AI can enhance security and networking experiences,identifyingopportunities to integrate AI responsibly into our users’ workflows.

+ Support peers and junior researchers by building skills in research practice

Minimum Qualifications

+ 6+ years leading qualitative and quantitative research projects from discovery through to presentation(discovery, planning, recruitment, execution, analysis,presentation).

+ Experience partnering with product, design, and engineering teams to define and execute researchstudies.

+ Experience applyinga varietyofresearch methodologies such as user interviews, usability testing, surveys,benchmarking, concept evaluations, journeymappingor data analysis to inform product and design decisions.

+ Experience synthesizing and documenting research findings to guide product or design direction.

Preferred Qualifications

+ Experience framing and prioritizing research questions that align with business and product goals.

+ AI-friendly research approach, incorporating AI into research workflows,excited by the challenges AI brings to experience design

+ Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

+ Can easily navigate ambiguity

+ Strong quantitative and statistical analysis skills

+ Excellent communication and presentation / storytelling skills

+ Experience working in a B2B or B2C large enterprise

Why Cisco?

At Cisco,we’rerevolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond.We’vebeen innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions thatpower howhumans 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 tothatour worldwide network of doers and experts, andyou’llsee 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:

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.

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.

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.