Software Engineering Technical Leader, Hybrid, Milpitas, CA

Application window expected to close on 10/06/2026; posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or sufficient applications are received.

Meet the Team

Join the Cisco Catalyst Center team, a dynamic group dedicated to transforming enterprise network management through automation and intelligence. Our team plays a critical role in simplifying complex network operations, enabling organizations to deliver seamless, secure, and scalable digital experiences. We are a collaborative and innovative team, passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive network assurance and operational efficiency. With a culture that fosters continuous learning and growth, Network Platform team members work closely across Cisco’s broader networking and security portfolios to shape the future of intent-based networking.

Your Impact

• Architectural Leadership: Design and implement robust API-based integrations between the Meraki Dashboard and Catalyst Center, ensuring seamless data synchronization and unified policy management.
• AI-Driven SDLC: Champion the adoption of AI-assisted development tools to streamline the CI/CD pipeline, automate testing, and enhance code maintainability.
• Technical Mentorship: Provide technical guidance to engineering teams, fostering best practices in software design, security, and scalability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Product Management and Network Engineering teams to define requirements that address complex customer use cases in hybrid cloud environments.
• Innovation: Explore and implement emerging technologies, including Generative AI and LLM-based prompting, to improve developer productivity and system observability.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field and 12+ years of related experience, or Master’s Degree with 8+ years of related experience, or PhD with 5+ years of related experience.
• Technical: Proficiency in Java and Python, with an understanding of RESTful APIs and microservices architecture.
• SDLC: Experience in implementing AI-driven SDLC methodologies, including AI-assisted code generation, automated refactoring, and predictive analytics in CI/CD pipelines.
• Networking Knowledge: Familiarity with network management protocols, cloud-managed networking (e.g., Meraki), and campus/enterprise networking (Catalyst).
• Leadership: Experience leading technical projects and mentoring engineering staff.
• Communication: Ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Languages: Go and Ruby for building high-performance backend services or automation scripts.
• AI/ML Integration: Experience with prompt engineering, fine-tuning LLMs, or integrating AI models into existing software workflows.
• Cloud Platforms: Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP, particularly regarding network connectivity and management integrations.

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 $214,100.00 to $309,800.00 for new hires in U.S. and/or Canada locations (excluding incentive compensation, equity, or benefits). 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 specific locations is listed below:

• New York City Metro Area: $214,100.00 - $356,300.00
• Non-Metro New York State & Washington State: $192,400.00 - $317,200.00

For quota-based sales roles, the ranges include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

Benefits

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

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
• Paid parental leave
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Basic life insurance
• Eligibility for grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment
• Paid time away, 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
  • 4 paid days off for personal wellness
  • Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period
  • Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program with no defined limit (subject to availability and business limitations)
  • 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, with up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward
  • Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues
  • Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
• Eligibility to earn annual bonuses (for non-sales roles) or performance-based incentive pay (for sales roles), subject to Cisco’s policies

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