Principal Corporate Counsel: Security & Trust, Incident Response

About this role

The application window is expected to close on: 09/10/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received .

Members of the Legal organization at select locations will generally be expected to follow a hybrid work model, which includes two days of in-office attendance each week, with limited exceptions.

Location preferences for RTP, NC as well as East coast hours.   Meet the Team

We are seeking a skilled Principal Corporate Counsel to join the Cisco Legal Department's Security and Trust Legal team - we proudly serve as the primary legal advisors for Cisco's Security and Trust Organization. This team provides legal support to S&TO's security functions (including incident response and risk management, compliance and policy enforcement, infosec, product security, security training and awareness, vendor and workforce security management) as well as market access and trust functions (including product certifications).

Your Impact In this role, you will be a key legal advisor focused on incident response and risk management within Cisco's Security and Trust Organization. You will play a critical role in safeguarding Cisco's operations and data by providing expert legal mentorship on security events, incidents, and compliance with evolving security, resilience, and data laws. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with diverse internal and external stakeholders, develop corporate policies, and contribute to cross-collaborative initiatives related to data, AI, and regulatory implementation. Your work will directly impact Cisco's ability to maintain trust and navigate complex legal landscapes in the cybersecurity domain.

Responsibilities

* Provide legal mentorship and support to Cisco's Security and Trust Org. on incident response activities, including coordinating with and advising other members of the legal department, outside counsel, communication teams, and other internal and external stakeholders. * Assist in managing legal risks associated with security events, incidents, and other issues. * Advise on compliance with security, resilience, and data laws, other legal requirements (such as contractual and intellectual property), and corporate policies. * Support the development, implementation, and improvement of security and data policies, standards, and procedures. * Review and negotiate security, resilience, AI, and data topics in customer and vendor contracts.

Minimum Qualifications

* Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent post-undergraduate degree, and active, tested admission to practice law and 7+ years' experience. * Demonstrated mastery of security, resilience, and data protection laws. *Current meaningful background providing legal counsel on security incidents , including based on regulatory, contractual, and policy risks. * Validated ability to run company and individual notifications, as well as regulatory reporting, for security and data incidents. * Solid understanding of the meaning of corporate security policies and incident response protocols.

Preferred Qualifications

* Strategic approach to identifying and addressing legal and security challenges. * Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex issues and propose effective solutions. * Clear communicator, able to convey complex legal and technical concepts to diverse audiences. * Exposure to working with security teams or within a corporate security environment is highly desirable. * Experience in establishing governance frameworks for the entire AI data lifecycle, from data acquisition and training data preparation to model deployment and monitoring, ensuring compliance with emerging AI regulations and ethical guidelines.

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:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $192,300.00 to $243,900.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits. 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

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