Software Engineer - Forwarding Technologies and Programming NPUs

Meet the Team

The Cisco Distributed System Engineering (DSE) group is at the forefront of developing products that power the largest networks in the world. The networking industry is going through a massive transformation to build the next generation infrastructure to meet the needs of AI/ML workloads and continuously increasing internet users and applications. We are uniquely positioned to capture that market transition. This team builds products by harnessing the potential of open-source technologies while pushing the boundaries on Systems and Silicon Architecture.

We are looking for developers and leaders who are passionate about tackling complex technology, building large scale distributed systems and comfortable working with open-source communities and technologies. You will be part of a fast-paced work environment and responsible for end-to-end product development and production support.

You are a developer who will design, develop, automate, and execute new hardware or features across complex Network Architectures using C/C++ language. You define and qualify end to end / solution architectures, engage in debugging complex network problems and define solutions. Having worked on network automation, you have the ability to demonstrate algorithmic thinking and analytics applications derived from customer use cases.

• Contribute to the development and enhancement of Cisco IOS XR software.
• Play a vital role in the innovation and improvement of software solutions for AI/ML, hyperscalers, and service providers.

• Take ownership of tasks and features with the ability to quickly acquire new skills.
• Address innovative challenges and resolve complex technical problems.

• Work closely with fellow engineers to deliver new functionalities and enhancements to customers.
• Collaborate with tools like Microsoft Copilot and Cisco's internal AI/ML solutions to drive development efficiency.

• Develop new features for the software or design fully automated tests.
• Investigate and troubleshoot issues to ensure reliable and effective solutions.
• Utilize test tools to maintain high-quality standards and ensure the software meets rigorous benchmarks.

• Gain hands‑on experience with various areas of network technologies, such as Programmability and Routing Infrastructure.
• Build expertise in cutting‑edge network technology and develop skills applicable to a wide range of systems.

Enhance the experience and satisfaction of customers by delivering robust, high‑quality software solutions. Ensure the continuous improvement and innovation of Cisco IOS XR software to meet evolving customer needs.

• Bachelors +7 years of related experience OR Masters +4 years of related experience.
• Experience in designing, implementing, or optimizing software solutions for Layer 3 forwarding, including routing protocols, packet forwarding and related network functionalities.
• C and/or C++ and Python experience on Linux.
• Debugging experience with GDB or similar tools.

• Familiarity with Linux and modern software tools and techniques for development/debugging and validated software design and development skills.
• Service provider, data center technologies and architectures.
• Deep understanding of networking protocols and different L2/L3 to L7 technologies.
• VMs and virtualization technologies.
• Automation experience with Python, Tcl, REST, Jenkins.
• SDLC and AGILE development methodologies experience.

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…