Cisco

QA Software Engineer NC Hybrid

Cisco$128K — $184K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 4+ years or Master's degree with 3+ years in Computer Science, AI/ML, or similar field.
  • Experience in test automation and regression framework development.
  • Proficient in Playwright (TypeScript/JavaScript) and/or Python with Pytest; familiarity with Selenium.
  • Experience with REST API testing; GraphQL testing experience is a plus.
  • Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines and automated testing best practices.
  • Familiarity with AI-assisted coding tools like GitHub Copilot or Cursor.

Responsibilities

  • Architect and maintain automated regression and end-to-end test suites for the Circuit platform.
  • Design and execute API test suites for REST and GraphQL, covering various aspects of functional correctness.
  • Plan and conduct performance testing, tracking relevant AI-specific metrics.
  • Utilize AI tools to generate and manage regression test suites.
  • Develop validation strategies for AI features, ensuring model response quality.
  • Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and create metrics reports for engineering leadership.
  • Lead automation initiatives, mentoring peers and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

  • Participation in cross-functional leadership and mentoring opportunities.
  • Access to advanced AI-assisted tools that enhance automation processes.
  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology in the AI/ML domain.
  • High visibility role with potential impact on product quality and performance.
  • Commitment to a collaborative, automation-first culture.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 09/28/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Your Impact

As an Automation QA Engineer, you will drive the transformation of our regression testing ecosystem, moving beyond manual processes to build AI-driven, fully automated test suites for both new and legacy features. You will design and own end-to-end (E2E), API, and performance test automation that ensures the Circuit platform continues to meet Cisco's high standards for functional quality and performance.

You will build and maintain scalable test frameworks, integrate them into CI/CD pipelines for continuous quality feedback, and leverage AI-assisted coding tools (such as Cursor, Copilot, or Claude Code) to generate and maintain tests-while rigorously validating that AI-generated artifacts are stable, correct, and compliant with security standards. This is a high-visibility role where your ability to automate functional quality and reduce technical debt directly ensures Circuit remains a reliable vehicle for process automation across Cisco.

Responsibilities

Automated Regression & E2E Testing: Architect, build, and maintain comprehensive automated regression and end-to-end test suites for the entire Circuit platform using Playwright (TypeScript/JavaScript), Python/Pytest, and Selenium, replacing manual QA with scalable automation.

API Testing: Design and automate REST and GraphQL API test suites covering functional correctness, contract validation, error handling, and performance-including validation of AI/model-serving endpoints under concurrent load.

Performance & Load Testing: Plan and execute load, stress, and soak tests using k6 or JMeter, ; track response-time percentiles (p95/p99), throughput, error rates, and AI-specific metrics such as Time to First Token (TTFT) and inter-token latency.

AI-Driven Test Automation: Use AI agents and AI-assisted coding tools (Cursor, Copilot, Claude Code) to generate and maintain regression suites for new and legacy features; read and judge the stability of auto-generated code and ensure it does not violate security standards before it is merged.

AI Application & Agent Validation: Develop testing approaches for AI/LLM features-validating model response quality, behavior consistency (stability testing), and end-to-end AI agent workflows across both the reasoning and action layers.

CI/CD Integration & Reporting: Integrate all automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or equivalent) for continuous validation; build dashboards and reports (Grafana, Allure) and communicate quality metrics, risk assessments, and defect trends to engineering leadership.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Act as a "Team Captain" for automation initiatives-defining standards, mentoring peers, and collaborating with development, product, and UX teams to embed automation-first testing into the core development lifecycle.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree with 4+ years, Master's degree with 3+ years, or PhD with 1+ year of related experience in Computer Science, AI/ML, or a related technical field.
  • Experience in test automation and regression framework development, with a deep understanding of functional quality assurance.
  • Experience with Playwright (TypeScript/JavaScript) for E2E/UI automation and/or Python with Pytest/Robot Framework; familiarity with Selenium.
  • Experience with REST API testing (and familiarity with API contract testing); GraphQL testing a plus.
  • Solid conceptual and practical knowledge of software development lifecycles, including CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or similar) and automated testing best practices.
  • Experience in AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code), critical thinking, and Agile/Git workflows to ensure high-quality, scalable test automation


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience testing AI/ML-powered web applications, including LLM-based features, chatbots, or AI agent workflows.
  • Hands-on experience with performance/load testing (k6, JMeter) and AI/LLM performance metrics (TTFT, inter-token latency, token throughput).
  • Experience in AI Ops / MLOps, or building/fine-tuning custom LLMs.
  • Experience with observability and reporting tools such as Splunk, Grafana, Prometheus,
  • Familiarity with Docker and Kubernetes for test environment management, and with Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  • Proven track record of leading technical projects and mentoring junior engineers.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills; ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Experience building and productizing agentic applications with a focus on evaluation and business acceptance.

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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