Software Engineer Complier I (Full Time) – United States

About the Role

Networking Engineering builds the foundational software and hardware systems that connect the world. Within our Core Platform Software and Toolchains organization, our team develops, optimizes, and maintains the mission-critical compiler, debugger, and code analysis toolchains that power Cisco IOS-XE, Silicon One, and cloud-scale routing platforms. We operate at the leading edge of systems engineering—bridging modern processor architectures with LLVM/GCC optimizations and high-fidelity runtime debugging infrastructure. As active contributors to the open source community, we solve complex low-level puzzles to maximize software performance, developer velocity, and binary resilience across Cisco's global product portfolio.

Your Impact

As a Compiler and Debugger Software Engineer, you will design, implement, and maintain advanced compilation and debugging toolchains that power Cisco's core networking platforms. You will develop compiler enhancements and runtime diagnostic tools in C and C++, optimize code generation and LLVM infrastructure for ARM64 and x86 architectures, and enhance GDB/LLDB debuggers. You will build automated regression pipelines using Python and CI/CD tools, integrate DWARF debug information standards, and integrate AI-assisted developer productivity tools into modern IDE environments. Success in this role means driving end-to-end toolchain excellence, evangelizing secure coding practices, and contributing impactful enhancements to open source toolchain ecosystems.

Minimum Qualifications

Meet one of the following (completed within the past 3 years or expected to be completed within the next 12 months):

• A Bachelor's degree with 0 years of work experience;
• An educational or workforce development program (e.g., Associate's, Apprenticeship, Boot camp, or Certification) with 1 year of work experience;
• A High school diploma (or equivalent) with 2 years of work experience.

Qualifying education and work experience should be in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

• Demonstrated programming proficiency in C or C++ with a strong foundational understanding of memory management, pointer arithmetic, and data structures.
• Foundational understanding of computer architecture (ARM or x86), operating system fundamentals (processes, memory management), and the ability to read assembly language.
• Coursework, academic research, or hands-on project experience in compiler construction, code generation, LLVM infrastructure, or debugger fundamentals (GDB, LLDB, DWARF).

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with LLVM, Clang, GCC, or GDB open-source toolchains, including writing custom LLVM passes or toolchain extensions.
• Familiarity with DWARF debug format specifications, object file structures (ELF), symbol tables, and binary analysis utilities (GNU Binutils).
• Practical experience developing test automation scripts using Python and Linux shell utilities in a CI/CD environment.
• Experience configuring or cross-compiling toolchains for Embedded Linux or networking operating systems (routers/switches).
• Interest or experience integrating AI-assisted developer tools or modern IDE plugins (VSCode, Language Server Protocol / DAP) to enhance software development workflows.

Why Cisco?

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.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $84,600.00 to $113,600.00, with specific ranges for certain locations:

• New York City Metro Area: $107,800.00 - $157,400.00
• Non-Metro New York State & Washington State: $94,800.00 - $140,000.00

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training.

Benefits

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include:

• 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
• Paid time away, including holidays, birthday, year-end shutdown, personal wellness days, and volunteer days
• Sick time off

Employees may also be eligible for grants of Cisco restricted stock units and annual bonuses, subject to Cisco’s policies.