Cisco

Principal Software Engineer

Cisco • $250K — $362K *
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and 15 years of experience, or Master's with 12 years, or PhD with 8 years, or equivalent related experience.
  • Experience delivering secure, enterprise-scale products or platforms.
  • Strong background in software development, including API design and distributed systems.
  • Cloud product architecture experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP; knowledge of cloud-native services and infrastructure as code.
  • Experience in security engineering and operations within the secure SDLC and cloud environments.

Responsibilities

  • Lead architecture, development, and delivery of secure cloud product capabilities.
  • Translate security and operational requirements into scalable architectures and technical designs.
  • Design, implement, test, deploy, and improve production software while ensuring security.
  • Collaborate with security, product, engineering, and customer teams to tackle complex security challenges.
  • Mentor engineers and drive operational improvements, product adoption, and customer value.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge security technologies in a fast-paced environment.
  • Collaboration across multiple teams, fostering a dynamic work culture.
  • Potential for career advancement through leading projects and mentoring.
  • Exposure to enterprise-scale operations within cloud environments.
Full Job Description
Your Impact

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead the architecture, development, and delivery of secure cloud product capabilities and services that support enterprise-scale security operations. You will translate security and operational requirements into scalable architectures, technical designs, APIs, data flows, integrations, and implementation plans. You will design, implement, test, deploy, operate, and continuously improve production software while applying secure coding, threat modeling, privacy by design, automated testing, CI/CD, and production-readiness practices. You will partner across security, product, engineering, and customer-facing teams to resolve complex challenges involving security controls, data ingestion, distributed systems, reliability, and performance. You will mentor engineers and drive measurable improvements in operational outcomes, product adoption, and customer value.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelors + 15 years of related experience, or Masters + 12 years of related experience, or PhD + 8 years of related experience, or equivalent related work experience.
  • Prior experience designing and delivering secure, enterprise-scale products or platforms.
  • Previous background with software development, including API design, distributed systems, data stores and integrations, automated testing, and production-quality code.
  • Prior experience with cloud product architecture experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP; cloud-native services; infrastructure as code; high availability; scalability; resilience; observability; and secure multi-tenant design.
  • Prior experience with security engineering and security operations experience across the secure SDLC, cloud environments, and enterprise infrastructure, including threat modeling, secure design reviews, vulnerability management, identity and access controls, security monitoring, detection, investigation, incident response, and production support.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Applied experience leading or architecting large-scale, distributed systems and cloud products, especially in security analytics, SIEM, or SOC environments.
  • Applied experience operating security capabilities across multiple cloud providers, enterprise environments, and complex or regulated organizations.
  • Applied experience owning software across the full SDLC, including requirements, architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, production operations, and continuous improvement.
  • Prior experience with cloud product architecture, infrastructure as code, containers or serverless architectures, secure multi-tenant systems, reliability engineering, and cost-aware design.
  • Applied experience with data pipeline development, stream processing, integration of third-party security data sources.

About Cisco

Cisco Careers

Join the vibrant team at Cisco, a global leader in networking and cybersecurity solutions, where innovation and leadership thrive. Cisco offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and experiences, making it an ideal place for both seasoned professionals and those seeking an internship to jumpstart their career. Work You’ll Do At Cisco, you’ll be part of a culture that values diversity, leadership, and professional growth. Engage in work that matters with a team that combines technology, creativity, and the power of human connection to redefine networking. Cisco’s commitment to innovation isn’t just about technology, but also about transforming the way we work and collaborate. Cisco’s employment philosophy supports career advancement and nurtures a leadership pipeline that is equipped with diversity training and opportunities for growth. Whether you’re applying your skills to drive our latest innovations or using our vast networking capabilities to solve complex problems, at Cisco, every role is impactful. Join Our Dynamic Team Explore job opportunities in areas ranging from engineering to marketing, sales to cybersecurity. Cisco is hiring individuals who are passionate, curious, and ready to drive change. Positions at Cisco offer competitive benefits, a supportive culture, and the chance to work with cutting-edge technology. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with a Cisco internship. Gain invaluable industry experience, enhance your resume, and build professional networks that last a lifetime. Our internships provide hands-on experience and the chance to work on projects that matter. Leadership and Development Cisco is committed to fostering leadership skills and providing employees with the training needed to succeed. Our leadership programs help you develop new skills, manage teams effectively, and lead with confidence. Cisco’s commitment to professional development ensures that your career path is as dynamic as our technologies. Benefits and Culture Cisco understands the importance of a balanced life. Our benefits package is designed to ensure that our team members are healthy, happy, and secure. At Cisco, you’ll find a supportive culture that encourages open communication, teamwork, and mutual respect. Stay Connected Join Cisco’s Talent Network Stay informed about new positions that match your skills and interests. At Cisco, we value the curiosity and unique perspectives of our team members. Subscribe to receive personalized job alerts and insider tips directly from our hiring managers. Explore Cisco Jobs Ready to advance your career at Cisco? Search open positions, prepare your resume, and get ready for an interview that could lead to your next big opportunity. At Cisco, we’re not just filling positions—we’re investing in leaders. Keep Up to Date Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. READ CAREERS BLOG Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await you at Cisco.
Learn more about Cisco
Size
79,500 employees
Market Cap
$194.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$10.1 billion
Founded
2014
5 Year Trend
+1.4%
Revenue
$48 billion
NASDAQ

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