Principal Customer Program Manager

Cisco develops next-generation networking and silicon solutions for the AI/ML era. The Principal Customer Program Manager will lead the integration and delivery of Silicon One products in strategic customer environments, coordinating cross-functional engineering, product management, sales, and customer teams from evaluation through production launch. The role also drives issue resolution, technical discussions, project execution, and executive-level program communication.

Responsibilities:

• Define the strategy and execution plans for successfully integrating SiliconOne products in customer environments, from evaluation/proof-of-concept to design/development/qualification/validation, to production launch
• Execute the plan you craft by: scoping the project, identifying and assembling the core support team, formally kicking off the project with customers, developing a joint project timeline, supporting the design-in effort by providing technical collateral/tools, leading engineering design reviews, ensuring the implementation of certain customer-required features, driving resolution of any blocking issues, and ensuring timely customer acceptance and production deployment
• Translate customer requirements into specific tasks and assign those tasks to relevant functional areas with ease. Collecting, prioritizing, tracking, and driving customer-reported issues to resolution/closure is a key focus of this role
• Clearly and intelligently communicate issue status to the customer and internal (including executive) teams
• Work closely with engineering, product management, and sales teams to resolve technical issues, set accurate expectations and keep the scope of the projects on track to successful execution
• Effectively organize and lead complex technical engineering-to-engineering discussions
• Correctly represent the urgency of issues and raise them (internally and/or externally) as appropriate
• Regularly communicate program status and key issues to management
• Develop a close working relationship with customer development teams and use creativity to find solutions to their issues

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in high-tech electronics, specifically leading large-scale program and project management initiatives
• Deep technical expertise in cloud development, deployment, or OEM environments
• Proven track record of managing high-stakes hardware and software engagements for strategic datacenter customers
• Hands-on experience working across the full product stack—including Software, ASIC, and Hardware—with a focus on managing end-to-end customer deliveries
• Expert leadership capabilities, with the ability to drive execution across diverse, cross-functional global teams
• Advanced problem-solving, negotiation, and organizational skills to manage complex dependencies and project risks
• Ability to translate complex technical requirements into actionable, high-impact roadmaps for both engineering teams and external partners
• Strong technical background in system, HW, and SW qualification for AI infrastructure, cloud/DC environments, or networking ASICs
• Strategic mindset: ability to navigate complex organizational environments, identify cross-functional connections, and adapt to shifting circumstances
• Proven comfort with high levels of ambiguity and the ability to thrive in rapidly evolving technical landscapes
• Exceptional cross-boundary collaboration skills, with a track record of importing and exporting talent and ideas to achieve broader organizational goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills that drive executive-level impact and clarity at scale