Principal Corporate Counsel – Incubation, Enterprise AI

Cisco

. Serve as a key legal partner to fast-paced incubation teams .

Posted 9/29/2026full-timeUnited StatesLead💰 $192,300 - $243,900 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in technology law, product counseling, and IP licensing, providing actionable legal guidance to fast-paced product teams while ensuring compliance and managing regulatory risks. Proficient in synthesizing complex legal concepts into clear advice for diverse stakeholders, leveraging AI to enhance legal support.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Juris Doctor (JD)8+ Years Legal ExperienceProduct CounselingIP LicensingAI Governance Certifications

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Technology LawRegulatory Risk ManagementDrafting SkillsNegotiation SkillsData GovernancePrivacy LawPatent ProtectionJoint Development AgreementsOpen Source Legal IssuesResearch Agreements

Soft Skills

Proactive Builder MindsetAbility to Synthesize Complex InformationCross-Functional CollaborationClear Communication

Certifications & Qualifications

AIGPCIPPCISSP

Industry Keywords

Legal GuidanceEmerging TechnologiesUser TrustBusiness VelocityFast-Paced Environment

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Open Source

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as a key legal partner to fast-paced incubation teams
Support teams building and graduating or offloading innovative Cisco projects
Provide legal guidance as teams collaborate with third parties to ideate, build, prototype, and evolve emerging technologies
Help ensure compliance by design while working cross-functionally within and outside Legal
Advise on joint development and partnerships, regulatory risk, IP and patent protection, data governance and privacy, and AI ethics and risk
Provide clear, actionable guidance on complex business and legal issues
Leverage and deploy AI to accelerate and streamline guidance to business teams
Enable internal deployment, launch, and graduation of innovations in a way that builds user trust and supports business velocity
Provide legal support to Outshift by Cisco and the Enterprise AI Platforms & Infrastructure team

Requirements

What you’ll need

Juris Doctor (JD)
8+ years of experience in a law firm or in-house legal department
Demonstrated experience in product counseling, technology law and transactions, and IP licensing
Ability to synthesize complex, ambiguous regulatory landscapes into clear, business-centric advice
Exceptional drafting and negotiation skills
Ability to translate nuanced technical and legal concepts into actionable guidance for executives and engineers
Preferred: experience serving as legal counsel to dynamic and fast-paced product teams
Preferred: familiarity with open source legal issues, research agreements, brand protection and marketing issues
Preferred: background in IP and/or patent law
Preferred: external AI governance, privacy, or security certifications such as AIGP, CIPP, or CISSP
Preferred: experience working in cross-functional, global teams
Proactive builder mindset and comfort working in a rapidly evolving environment

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental and vision insurance
401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
Paid parental leave
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Basic life insurance
Cisco restricted stock unit grants may be available, vesting after defined periods of continued employment
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
Paid year-end holiday shutdown
4 paid days off for personal wellness
16 days of paid vacation per full calendar year for non-exempt employees
Flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit for eligible exempt employees
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
Up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward annually
Additional paid time away for critical or emergency family issues
Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year
Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies
Benefits and perks described on the Cisco careers site