Sr Software Engineer--Routing Platform & Infrastructure

Meet The Team

Join the Platform Infrastructure & Optics team, a powerhouse within Cisco's Mass Infrastructure Group dedicated to redefining network performance for the AI era. We design and deliver the software intelligence behind Cisco's next-generation high-performance routing platforms, including the Cisco 8000 series. Our work sits at the critical intersection of high-speed optics, custom Silicon One NPUs, and distributed system software. We are looking for engineers who are passionate about solving the challenges of exponential data growth and building the resilient, scalable, and efficient transport foundations that power the world's most critically important networks. You will join this next-generation networking and AI infrastructure team, contributing to the design and development of scalable software systems for high-speed networking platforms, coherent optical transceivers, PHY devices, and next-generation NPU-based systems. You will work at the intersection of optics and its standards, silicon photonics, ASIC/NPU datapath, Linux embedded software and distributed network operating systems.

Your Impact

• Own the lifecycle of management frameworks that ensure seamless, standardized interoperability between our hardware and the complex pluggable optics ecosystem.
• Bridge the gap between hardware and software by driving the integration of control-plane and datapath logic, ensuring our NPU and ASIC designs deliver peak performance in next-generation high-speed environments.
• Architect robust, Linux-based embedded solutions that enable deep integration of hardware optics and PHY layers.
• Champion system reliability by designing the diagnostic and telemetry infrastructure that keeps our networks observable and autonomous.
• Lead the end-to-end design of medium-scope features, acting as a technical steward for our software roadmap and influencing the adoption of modern, agile engineering best practices.
• Elevate the team through technical mentorship with knowledge sharing, meticulous code reviews, and the creation of comprehensive user documentation.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 6+ years, Master's degree and 4+ years, or PhD and 1+ years of experience with a degree in CS, EE, or related field.
• C/C++/Python, Data Structures and Algorithms.
• Embedded systems development and Linux OS programming experience.
• Platform Infrastructure or Optics software development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with coherent optics (ZR/ZR+), PHY / SerDes, FEC, ASIC / NPU, and DSP-based systems.
• Familiarity with CMIS and / or SFF standards.
• Experience with IOS-XR, SONiC, FBOSS, or similar NOS platforms.
• Experience with AI networking infrastructure.
• Knowledge of optical line systems and coherent transport technologies.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $167,700.00 to $245,200.00, reflecting the projected range for new hires in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation, equity, or benefits. Individual pay is determined by hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. For quota-based sales roles, the ranges include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined. Full salary ranges by specific state: New York City Metro Area $167,700.00 - $282,000.00; Non-Metro New York State & Washington State $149,100.00 - $250,900.00.

Benefits

• 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.
• Grants of Cisco restricted stock units (vesting following continued employment for defined periods).
• 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: 16 days of paid vacation per full calendar year (accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time).
• Exempt employees: flexible vacation time off program (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.
• Annual bonuses for non-sales roles (subject to Cisco's policies).
• Sales roles: performance-based incentive pay on top of base salary, split between quota and non-quota components.

Schedule

This is a hybrid role requiring being in office in Milpitas at least 3 days per week. Candidates must be local to Milpitas.