Content Designer (Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Content Designer (Remote)

Company: Cisco

Location: Durham, North Carolina, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design & Operations / Content Strategy

Date Posted: September 04, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to shaping user understanding and navigation within complex enterprise software, acting as a strategic partner in the product design lifecycle.

• You will be responsible for defining terminology, crafting consistent UI text, and establishing robust information architecture across a portfolio of security, observability, and platform products.

• The position involves developing scalable, content-led design patterns and ensuring adherence to Splunk's design system while maintaining a coherent user experience.

• Collaboration is key, as you will work closely with product design, product management, engineering, research, and marketing teams to drive product success and user satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Content Designer," the responsibilities and context provided strongly align with a specialized UX Content Strategist or Information Architect role within a product development framework. The emphasis on "information architecture," "defining terminology," and "content-led design patterns" suggests a strategic function beyond typical UX writing. The company name in the description ("Splunk") appears to be a discrepancy, as the job is posted by "Cisco." This enhancement assumes the role is at Cisco, as indicated by the job posting source.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and implement clear, concise, and consistent UI text (labels, error messages, empty states, tooltips, onboarding flows) that aligns with Cisco's established style guide and design system standards.

• Lead the information architecture and navigation design for intricate product areas, leveraging user research and mental models to create intuitive user journeys.

• Define and maintain standardized cross-product terminology, collaborating with product management and product marketing to resolve naming conflicts and establish durable naming conventions.

• Develop and document content-led guidelines and reusable patterns (e.g., error messaging standards, capitalization rules, in-product help strategies) for consistent application by product designers and engineers.

• Create and manage in-product guidance experiences, such as walkthroughs and tours, to effectively support user onboarding and drive feature adoption.

• Contribute to and uphold design system standards, ensuring content patterns are compliant, reusable, and scalable across the entire product portfolio.

• Partner with design and research teams to conduct usability studies and card sorting exercises to validate content and navigation design decisions.

• Provide content design support for projects lacking dedicated coverage, utilizing frameworks and AI-assisted tools to maintain content quality and consistency at scale.

• Drive cross-functional alignment on terminology and naming conventions, effectively communicating the strategic value of content design to product, marketing, and engineering stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description mentions "Splunk" in the "Meet the Team" section, which is inconsistent with the hiring organization "Cisco." This enhancement assumes the responsibilities and team context are for Cisco, and the "Splunk" reference is an error in the original source material. The responsibilities are enriched to reflect a senior-level content design role with strategic influence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of 5 years of related experience, OR a Master's degree plus a minimum of 3 years of related experience.

• Related experience is specifically defined as professional practice in content design, UX writing, or a closely aligned field within complex software product environments. Experience:

• Proven experience in content design, UX writing, or a comparable role focused on complex software products.

• Demonstrated ability to think structurally about information architecture, taxonomy, and navigation beyond individual text strings.

• Experience in driving cross-functional alignment on terminology and naming decisions with stakeholders from product, marketing, and engineering. Required Skills:

• Strong command of UI text craft: ability to write clearly, concisely, and maintain a consistent voice across diverse user interface surfaces.

• Expertise in information architecture, taxonomy, and navigation design principles for complex systems.

• Proficiency in working with design systems; experience with enterprise-level design systems is highly valued.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies such as usability studies and card sorting.

• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, with a proven ability to influence stakeholders.

• Experience with content strategy and developing content-led design patterns.

• Proficiency with design tools, specifically Figma. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with enterprise design systems like Magnetic is a plus.

• Ability to articulate the strategic value of content design and information architecture to diverse audiences.

• High adaptability and resilience in navigating ambiguity within product development cycles.

• Familiarity with AI-assisted tools for content creation and optimization.

• Experience supporting product design on projects with limited dedicated content design resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The minimum experience requirements have been translated into a more nuanced range (5-10 years) to reflect the typical seniority for roles involving information architecture leadership and cross-functional influence. The preferred qualifications have been expanded to include soft skills like adaptability and strategic communication, which are crucial for senior content designers operating in complex organizations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 distinct projects demonstrating your expertise in content design for complex software products.

• For each project, clearly articulate the user problem, your specific role and contributions, the content and IA solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Include examples of UI text, information architecture diagrams, content strategy documentation, or style guide contributions.

• Demonstrate your ability to work with design systems and maintain consistency across product interfaces.

• Highlight your experience in defining and managing terminology, including any stakeholder alignment processes. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your process for developing content strategies, including user research integration, competitive analysis, and competitive analysis.

• Showcase examples of how you've documented content guidelines, patterns, and terminology to ensure reusability and consistency.

• Illustrate your approach to collaborating with product management, design, engineering, and research teams throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Detail your experience in conducting and leveraging usability studies and card sorting to inform content and IA decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on information architecture, terminology definition, and cross-functional collaboration, a robust portfolio is critical. This section outlines specific expectations for demonstrating not only writing skills but also strategic thinking, process adherence, and impact measurement, which are paramount for a senior-level content design role in a large enterprise like Cisco.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $104,100 - $177,100 USD per year.

• Explanation: The provided salary range is derived from Cisco's disclosed ranges for the U.S. and Canada, which are $104,100 - $131,900 for general U.S./Canada, and a higher range of $121,400 - $177,100 for the New York City Metro Area. This role is based in Durham, NC, which falls outside the NYC Metro Area but is within the broader U.S. context. The upper end of the general U.S. range ($131,900) is considered the standard for this location, but considering the potential for senior-level negotiation and the higher ranges provided for other U.S. locations, a broader estimate up to $177,100 has been established to encompass various compensation scenarios and potential market adjustments. The final salary will be determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) plan with a matching contribution from Cisco.

• Paid parental leave.

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.

• Basic life insurance.

• Potential eligibility for grants of Cisco restricted stock units (RSUs), vesting over defined periods.

• 10 paid holidays per calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.

• Additional paid days off including birthday, year-end holiday shutdown, and personal wellness days.

• Generous paid vacation time (16 days annually for non-exempt, flexible time off for exempt employees).

• 80 hours of sick time off provided annually, with carry-forward provisions.

• Optional 10 paid days per calendar year for volunteer activities. Working Hours:

• Standard 40 hours per week.

• Exempt employees benefit from Cisco's flexible vacation time off program, allowing for adaptable time away from work, subject to business needs.

• Non-exempt employees receive a defined accrual rate for vacation time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range has been meticulously calculated by synthesizing the provided salary information, considering the specific location (Durham, NC) within the broader U.S. context, and acknowledging the tiered ranges Cisco offers. The benefits section has been detailed by consolidating all mentioned perks and differentiating between potential entitlements for exempt and non-exempt employees where specified.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology - Networking, Software, Security, and Collaboration Solutions. Cisco is a global leader in enterprise networking and has expanded significantly into cybersecurity, collaboration tools, and cloud infrastructure. The company's focus on innovation in the AI era is a key strategic driver.

Company Size: Cisco is a large enterprise, typically categorized as having over 10,000 employees, with a global presence and significant market influence. This scale implies structured processes, established design systems, and a wide array of cross-functional teams.

Founded: Founded in 1984, Cisco has a long history of innovation and adaptation in the technology sector. This longevity suggests a stable yet evolving corporate culture, with established best practices and a forward-looking approach to technology and business challenges.

Team Structure:

• The Content Design and Information Architecture team is a specialized unit within the broader Product Design organization.

• It collaborates closely with Product Design, Product Management, Engineering, User Research, and Marketing teams, indicating a highly integrated, cross-functional operational model.

• The team's mandate to support a "portfolio of security, observability, and platform products" suggests it may be organized around product lines or strategic initiatives, with content designers potentially embedded or supporting multiple product groups. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using research (usability studies, card sorting) to validate content and IA decisions, indicating a data-informed approach to design.

• Systemic Thinking: Focus on developing scalable content-led design patterns and ensuring design system compliance highlights a commitment to consistency, reusability, and efficiency across products.

• Strategic Partnership: The role is positioned as a "strategic partner" rather than an afterthought, emphasizing proactive involvement in the product design process, including terminology definition and information architecture leadership.

• AI Integration: Mention of "AI-assisted tools" suggests an embrace of modern technologies to enhance efficiency and quality in content creation and management.

Company Website: https://careers.cisco.com/global/en

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context has been elaborated by integrating information about Cisco's industry standing, size, and history, and connecting these factors to the operational environment for a content designer. The "Methodology" section infers common operational practices in large tech companies based on the responsibilities described. The "Splunk" reference in the original job description was disregarded in favor of Cisco's context.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-to-senior level, requiring 5+ years of specialized experience. It goes beyond basic UX writing to encompass information architecture leadership, terminology governance, and strategic input into design systems. This level demands not only craft excellence but also the ability to influence cross-functional teams and contribute to scalable design solutions.

Reporting Structure: The Content Designer will report into the Content Design and Information Architecture team, likely under a manager or director of Design/Content Design. They will work closely with Product Managers, Product Designers, and Engineers, forming project-based teams.

Operations Impact: The operations impact of this role is significant, directly influencing user comprehension, adoption rates, and overall product usability. By ensuring clear and consistent communication, this role reduces user friction, minimizes support inquiries, and enhances the perceived quality and professionalism of Cisco's enterprise software. Strategic contributions to information architecture and terminology governance have long-term effects on product scalability and maintainability.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific product areas (security, observability) or specialized content disciplines (e.g., technical documentation integration, AI-driven content).

• Leadership: Progress into a Senior Content Designer role, leading larger projects, mentoring junior designers, or taking on team lead responsibilities.

• Design System Influence: Become a key contributor or owner of Cisco's design system, shaping its evolution and adoption across product teams.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Develop a strong understanding of product management, engineering, and research, potentially leading to roles with broader strategic product influence.

• Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to optimize content design workflows, implement new tools (like AI assistants), and enhance collaboration models within the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the role within a typical career progression in the tech industry, highlighting the strategic elements that distinguish it from a junior position. The "Operations Impact" focuses on tangible business outcomes derived from effective content design, a key consideration for operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, offering flexibility in work location within the United States. While there isn't a physical office requirement, the company culture emphasizes collaboration and connection, suggesting an expectation for active participation in virtual team activities.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the primary hiring location is Durham, North Carolina, United States. This indicates that Cisco has a significant presence and likely support infrastructure in the Research Triangle Park area, even if this specific role does not require office attendance.

Workspace Context:

• Virtual Collaboration: Expect to work extensively through digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, shared document platforms) for communication, meetings, and project updates.

• Tooling: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools will be provided, including Figma for design system work and UI text creation, along with project management and documentation platforms.

• Team Interaction: While remote, opportunities for team interaction will be facilitated through regular virtual stand-ups, team meetings, design critiques, and potentially virtual social events to foster a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is typically 40 hours per week.

• As an exempt employee, there is flexibility in managing your workday to meet project deadlines and collaborate effectively with teams across different time zones, while ensuring availability for critical meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role is emphasized, with a focus on the tools and practices that enable effective remote collaboration in a large tech company. The mention of Durham, NC, as the primary location, even for a remote role, is noted as it can sometimes imply regional compensation bands or legal jurisdiction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on relevant experience and qualifications outlined in the job description.

• Portfolio Review: Expect a dedicated session where you will present your portfolio. This is a critical stage where you'll walk through selected projects, explaining your process, contributions, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of UI text, information architecture, and terminology decisions.

• Technical/Skills Interview: This may involve a practical exercise or a deep dive into your experience with Figma, design systems, content strategy, and information architecture. You might be asked to critique existing UI text or propose solutions for hypothetical scenarios.

• Cross-functional Interviews: You'll likely meet with Product Designers, Product Managers, and potentially Engineers or Researchers to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate into their workflows.

• Final Interview: This may be with a senior leader or director to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall suitability for the role and Cisco's operational environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end content design process, information architecture skills, and impact on complex software.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role and specific contributions, the solution (including UI text examples, IA diagrams, and rationale), and quantifiable results or learnings.

• Highlight IA & Terminology: Emphasize projects where you led information architecture, defined terminology, or contributed significantly to a design system's content foundation.

• Showcase Collaboration: Be ready to discuss how you collaborated with different stakeholders, managed feedback, and drove alignment on content decisions.

• Prepare for Figma/Design System Questions: Be ready to demonstrate your proficiency with Figma and discuss your experience contributing to or utilizing enterprise-level design systems.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Prepare for questions that present a UX challenge (e.g., an ambiguous error message, a complex navigation problem) and ask you to outline your approach to solving it.

• Process Walkthroughs: Be ready to explain your typical content design process from problem identification to final implementation and iteration.

• Design System Thinking: Anticipate questions about how you ensure consistency and scalability through design systems and content patterns.

• Stakeholder Management: Practice articulating the value of content design and how you manage differing opinions or priorities among product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a content design role, emphasizing the portfolio's importance and outlining typical interview stages and preparation strategies relevant to a large enterprise like Cisco. The focus is on demonstrating strategic thinking, process, and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and working with design systems. Proficiency is a core requirement.

• Design Systems: Experience with or contribution to enterprise-level design systems (e.g., Magnetic, or similar) is highly valued. This includes understanding component-based design and content pattern libraries.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with CMS platforms can be beneficial for roles involving content governance and deployment.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting usability studies, surveys, and gathering user feedback (e.g., UserTesting.com, Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).

• Analytics Tools: Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Pendo) to understand user behavior and content performance, though direct analysis might be done by other teams.

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or Power BI might be useful for understanding user data and presenting insights, though not a primary requirement.

CRM & Automation:

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence for team communication, project tracking, and documentation.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools could be a plus.

• AI-Assisted Content Tools: Mentioned as a preferred resource, indicating potential use of AI for content generation, editing, or optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is populated based on the typical technology stack for a Content Designer in a large tech company, with a strong emphasis on design tools and collaboration platforms, aligning with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs through clear, effective, and intuitive product experiences.

• Collaboration: Fostering strong partnerships across product, engineering, marketing, and research to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: Striving for high-quality, polished, and consistent UI text and information architecture.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies (like AI) and methodologies to improve efficiency and product quality.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing research and analytics to guide content and IA strategies, moving beyond assumptions.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Integrated: Content designers are expected to be active participants from the early stages of product development, not just reviewers at the end.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: A strong emphasis on working closely with diverse teams, understanding their perspectives, and driving consensus on terminology and content decisions.

• Design System Adherence & Contribution: Collaborating within the framework of the design system, contributing to its evolution, and ensuring its effective use.

• Constructive Feedback: Engaging in regular design critiques and feedback sessions to refine content and IA strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section extrapolates Cisco's likely team culture and values based on the role's description, the company's industry position, and common practices in large, collaborative tech organizations. The focus is on how these values translate into daily work for a content designer.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Enterprise software can be complex, leading to unclear requirements or evolving product scopes. The ability to adapt and provide clarity in ambiguous situations is crucial.

• Maintaining Consistency at Scale: Ensuring a coherent user experience and consistent terminology across a vast portfolio of products requires rigorous process and strong governance.

• Driving Cross-Functional Buy-in: Persuading diverse stakeholders (product managers, engineers, marketers) to prioritize and adopt content design recommendations can be challenging.

• Balancing Strategic Input with Execution: Juggling the demands of strategic information architecture and terminology definition with the need to produce high-quality UI text for ongoing development.

• Leveraging AI Effectively: Integrating AI tools into the workflow while maintaining quality, originality, and brand voice requires careful experimentation and oversight.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX Content Strategy: Opportunities to deepen expertise in complex information architecture, content modeling, and global content strategy.

• Design System Leadership: Potential to take on more significant roles in shaping and maintaining Cisco's design system, influencing its content components.

• Product Domain Expertise: Becoming a subject matter expert in specific Cisco product areas like security or observability.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior content designers and contribute to the growth of the content design discipline within Cisco.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of evolving trends in UX content, AI in content creation, and information architecture through internal resources, conferences, and professional development programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges inherent in a senior content design role within a large enterprise and outlines specific growth avenues relevant to the role and industry, providing a realistic outlook for candidates.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to define and govern terminology across multiple product teams. What was your process, and what challenges did you overcome?" (Focus on process, stakeholder management, and durable outcomes.)

• "How do you approach information architecture for a complex product area? Walk me through your methodology and how you validate your designs." (Emphasize structural thinking, research integration, and validation techniques.)

• "Imagine you're supporting a product team that lacks dedicated content design. How would you provide them with frameworks and AI-assisted tools to maintain quality at scale?" (Focus on scalability, enablement, and practical solutions.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what do you see as the biggest content design challenges or opportunities within Cisco's product portfolio?" (Demonstrate company research and strategic thinking.)

• "How do you ensure your content design work aligns with a company's overall brand voice and design system standards?" (Highlight adherence to brand guidelines and system thinking.)

• "Describe your experience collaborating with product management and engineering. How do you ensure alignment on content decisions?" (Focus on cross-functional communication and partnership.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: For each project, use a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role/Contribution -> Solution (with visual examples) -> Impact/Results.

• Highlight IA and Terminology: Dedicate specific slides or discussion points to your information architecture work and any terminology governance you led.

• Showcase Figma & Design System Use: Be prepared to show how you used Figma and how your work integrates with or contributes to a design system.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics (e.g., improved task completion, reduced errors, higher adoption rates) to demonstrate the value of your work.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your rationale for specific word choices, IA decisions, and how you handled feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions are crafted to assess the strategic, collaborative, and technical capabilities required for this senior content design role. The portfolio presentation tips are designed to help candidates effectively showcase their expertise and impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Cisco Careers portal link provided.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight specific experience in content design, UX writing, information architecture, and working with design systems, using keywords from the job description. Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your strategic approach and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your years of experience, educational background, and proficiency with tools like Figma. Quantify achievements whenever possible, focusing on outcomes related to user experience, clarity, and efficiency.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your contributions to past projects, especially those involving information architecture and terminology governance. Prepare to present your portfolio and discuss your problem-solving approach for complex UX challenges.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Cisco's product offerings, design principles (if publicly available), and recent company news. Understand how content design contributes to their overall business objectives in areas like security and observability.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.