Software Engineering Technical Leader- Platform Infrastructure, San Jose, CA

Meet the Team

Join Cisco's MIG Routing team group at the forefront of developing the innovative technologies that keep the world's largest networks running. As part of our team, you'll collaborate with industry-leading engineers who are passionate about solving complex technical challenges and setting new benchmarks for performance and reliability. The MIG Routing team is known for its supportive culture, commitment to continuous learning, and its direct impact on the evolution of global connectivity. Here, you'll have the opportunity to work on transformative projects that shape the backbone of the internet and drive Cisco's leadership in the networking industry.

Your Impact

You will collaborate with engineering and product teams from conceptualization through customer delivery to develop networking software solutions and platform capabilities for Cisco's next generation Network Operation System. Your work will directly impact the design, implementation, and quality of large-scale, cutting-edge routing and switching systems. You will be part of an energetic and dynamic development team. You will also work closely with Team Leads (TLs) and Principal Engineers (PEs) to define strategies for future products. Cisco is transforming the way we work, live, play, and learn.

Responsibilities

• Develop networking software solutions and platform capabilities for modular and fully distributed next generation Cisco Network Operation System that powers Cisco's cutting-edge routing/switching systems.
• Collaborate closely with engineering and product teams to develop software from the conceptualization phase through to customer delivery.
• Lead board bring-up, validation, and debugging of complex embedded systems.
• Implement products and features for large-scale systems that run complex code in high bandwidth environments.
• Troubleshoot and resolve software defects in components ranging from kernel modules to applications.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, driving and collaborating with other technical leaders and software engineers on system and functional design and architecture of new features.
• Write specification documents and review and sign off on requirements documents.
• Commit to a higher standard of quality, even under time-to-market pressures.
• Mentor and coach junior engineers, fostering technical excellence and knowledge sharing.
• Stay current with industry trends in networking, optics, and embedded systems, and drive adoption of relevant new technologies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years, OR Master's degree with 6+ years of experience in software development.
• Experience in programming languages such as C, C++, and Python.
• Experience with Embedded Systems, Linux Kernel and Real-time OS fundamentals, interrupt handling, device driver development, inter-process communication, and bus architectures such as PCIe and I2C.
• Experience with datapath technologies-including optics, PHY, and SerDes-with deep expertise in SerDes and coherent optical technologies for design, implementation, and troubleshooting in embedded networking platforms (routers).

Preferred Qualifications

• AI/ML experience is a plus.
• Experience with optical networking technologies and components.
• Strong understanding of physical layer protocols, signal processing, and modulation techniques.
• Familiarity with CMIS and SFF standards (such as SFP, QSFP) and their application in network systems.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with strong problem-solving and debugging abilities.
• Knowledge of software quality processes.

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.

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

• 1 paid day off for employee's birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco's flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto the next

• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members

• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco's policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco's sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.