I manage 10+ agents at Cisco. It doesn't mean longer hours, but the work can feel more intense.
A Cisco engineering director describes how the integration of AI agents has shifted the role of software engineers from manual coding to system architecture and workflow orchestration. While the work is not necessarily longer, it has become more intense and fast-paced.
Why it matters
Illustrates the practical, day-to-day transformation of professional roles due to the adoption of agentic AI.
Sergio Freitas said he manages 10 to 20 agents daily, which manage their own agents. Khanchit Khirisutchalual/Getty Images Sergio Freitas is a senior director of engineering at Cisco and oversees 10 to 20 agents daily. Now that agents are writing more code, it requires more review, Freitas said. While he's not putting in more hours, he said the work is faster-paced and can feel more intense. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sergio Freitas, senior director of engineering at Cisco, based in Lisbon, Portugal. His identity and employment have been verified by Business Insider. This story has been edited for length and clarity. I started as a software engineer, became a manager, and currently work as a director of engineering at Cisco, with four teams based in Portugal. Sergio Freitas said that AI agents have changed the pace of work.
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