Software Engineering Technical Leader

About the role

This is a senior engineering role within Cisco’s Silicon One team. The role involves building the platform and system software infrastructure that transforms advanced ASICs into production-ready platforms. You will work closely with the silicon, owning software from early bring-up through full system launch.

Responsibilities

• Own platform and system infrastructure for multiple Cygnus-based platforms, from first power-on through full system launch.
• Design and implement customer-required platform features and solutions.
• Develop applications and critical infrastructure improvements for Cygnus-based platforms.
• Lead technical efforts from design through completion.
• Convert ambiguous requirements into trackable engineering work items and drive them to closure.
• Develop robust diagnostics, counters, telemetry hooks, and automation to replace fragile one-off scripts.
• Integrate software into CI/CD pipelines and at-scale automation to keep bring-up cycles fast, repeatable, and auditable.
• Debug initialization and bring-up issues using on-chip traces, lab instrumentation, logs, and custom tools.
• Partner with vendors, ASIC architects, hardware designers, NOS/platform teams, and cross-functional software teams.
• Provide technical design documentation and influence implementation across teams.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote engineering best practices across the organization.
• Bring new ideas for improving software quality, platform validation, automation, and development efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s + 8 years of related experience, or Master’s + 6 years of related experience, or PhD + 3 years of related experience.
• Experienced C/C++ development skills for platform, embedded, or systems software.
• Python experience for tooling, automation, and test development.
• Experience with high-performance networking, embedded systems, platform software, or ASIC/board bring-up.
• Experience debugging hardware/software interaction issues using logs, traces, lab instrumentation, or custom tools.
• Ability to independently drive technical work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to translate ambiguous requirements into clear execution plans and trackable engineering deliverables.
• Strong collaboration skills across hardware, software, ASIC, vendor, and platform teams.

Qualifications

• Experience with Compilers, BSP, SDK, NOS/platform integration, register-level programming, or low-level bring-up.
• Experience building diagnostics, telemetry, counters, or validation infrastructure.
• CI/CD pipelines, lab automation, or large-scale test automation.
• Leading features across multiple teams or workstreams.
• Ability to influence technical direction and improve engineering processes across teams.
• Demonstrated technical communication and design documentation skills.

Skills

• Experienced in C/C++ development for platform, embedded, or systems software.
• Proficient in Python for tooling, automation, and test development.
• Knowledge of high-performance networking, embedded systems, platform software, or ASIC/board bring-up.
• Experience with debugging hardware/software interaction issues using logs, traces, lab instrumentation, or custom tools.
• Strong ability to independently execute and lead technical work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to translate ambiguous requirements into clear execution plans and trackable engineering deliverables.
• Excellent collaboration skills across hardware, software, ASIC, vendor, and platform teams.
• Experience with Compilers, BSP, SDK, NOS/platform integration, register-level programming, or low-level bring-up.
• Experience building diagnostics, telemetry, counters, or validation infrastructure.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, lab automation, or large-scale test automation.
• Experience leading features across multiple teams or workstreams.
• Experience influencing technical direction and improving engineering processes across teams.
• Strong technical communication and design documentation skills.

Benefits

At Cisco, you'll enjoy comprehensive benefits including 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. Additional paid time off includes 10 paid holidays, 1 birthday day off, a year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 personal wellness days. Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time, while exempt employees participate in Cisco's flexible vacation time off program. Employees may also earn annual bonuses based on performance and incentives.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $183,800.00 to $263,600.00, reflecting the projected salary range for new hires in U.S. and Canadian locations. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training.

Schedule

This is a hybrid role located in Milpitas, CA.