Software Engineering Technical Leader - Networking

About the Team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, and hardware platforms—like Silicon One—are shaping the technology industry. We're a distributed team of creative experts, bringing unique backgrounds and bold ideas to push boundaries and help each other grow. The team handles full product development—from design to qualification to production—enabling us to think differently, experiment more, and work quickly.

About the Role

The Silicon One Customer Engineering team serves as the technical bridge between Cisco’s high-performance silicon and real-world network deployments. By translating complex customer requirements into optimized software for the Silicon One NPU, the team directly influences the scalability and efficiency of modern AI/ML and internet infrastructure. This role is central to the product lifecycle, collaborating with architecture and hardware teams to ensure software features align with evolving demands of high-density, low-latency systems.

The team is a high-caliber group of software engineers and technical leads who prioritize ownership, mentorship, and technical rigor. The environment is collaborative and focused on solving complex challenges in control and data plane development using C++ and Python. Key aspects of the role include:

• Direct Impact: Influence the development of next-generation ASIC products by bridging hardware architecture and software programming models.
• Technical Scope: Develop and maintain scalable control and data plane software for the Silicon One NPU, addressing AI/ML and high-density networking demands.
• Full Lifecycle Ownership: Manage the software development process from customer requirement gathering to final implementation and delivery.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with architecture, hardware, and software teams to design innovative applications and customizations.
• Skill Application: Utilize modern C++, Python, and specialized network processing languages to build high-performance, low-latency software.
• Mentorship Culture: Engage in a team environment emphasizing technical guidance, code reviews, and clean, user-friendly APIs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in CS/EE or a related technical field with 8+ years of software development experience, OR a Master’s degree with 6+ years of related experience.
• 5+ years of experience in a formal people management or team lead role for software engineering teams.
• 8+ years of professional experience developing software using C, C++, or Python.
• 5+ years of professional experience implementing L2/L3 networking protocols, specifically BGP, OSPF, and MPLS.
• Experience identifying and resolving software defects using debugging tools including GDB or PDB.
• Experience applying algorithms and data structures to develop and optimize software in a production environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SONiC, SAI, or another Network OS.
• Experience with NPU/ASIC software architecture, design, and development, including SDKs in networking systems.
• Prior work with large-scale software systems and distributed computing.
• Experience leading projects involving complex system integration and customization.
• Experience collaborating with hardware teams, quality assurance, and customer support to deliver end-to-end solutions.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era and beyond. With 40 years of innovation, we create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across physical and digital worlds. Our technology provides unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across digital footprints. Fueled by our global network of experts, we experiment and create meaningful solutions, offering limitless opportunities to grow and build impactful careers.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $186,900.00 to $267,700.00 for new hires in U.S. and Canada locations, not including incentive compensation, equity, or benefits. Individual pay is determined by hiring location, market conditions, job-related skills, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and training. Below are the full salary ranges for specific locations:

• New York City Metro Area: $186,900.00 - $307,800.00
• Non-Metro New York State & Washington State: $166,300.00 - $274,100.00

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 eligibility rules, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution.
• Paid parental leave, short- and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance.
• Stock grants (restricted stock units) that vest over time with continued employment.
• Paid time off:
  • 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
  • 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days for personal wellness.
  • Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation per full calendar year (accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period).
  • Exempt employees participate in a flexible vacation program with no defined limit (subject to business needs).
  • 80 hours of sick time provided on hire and each January 1st, with up to 80 hours carried forward annually.
  • Additional paid time off for critical or emergency family issues.
  • Optional 10 paid days per year for volunteering.

Non-sales roles may earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies. Sales roles earn performance-based incentive pay split between quota and non-quota components, with no minimum threshold for payout.