Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.
Applications are accepted until further notice.
Meet the TeamOur dedicated team members are building the future of Cisco's core networking platforms, operating systems, and intelligent embedded infrastructure, powering global connectivity. You will join engineering teams focused on developing high-performance routing and switching architectures, low-latency telemetry, and hardware-software integration within business groups such as Cisco Networking, Security & Trust, and Supply Chain. As part of this collaborative environment, you will contribute to the evolution of next-generation distributed platforms and mission-critical network systems. Explore the opportunities at the intersection of embedded software, networking protocols, and silicon systems, helping to transform how Cisco delivers resilient, high-speed digital experiences worldwide.
Your Impact As an Embedded Systems Software Developer, you will take ownership of designing, implementing, and optimizing critical software components across Cisco's next-generation networking platforms. You will collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams, technical leaders, and architecture groups to solve complex architectural challenges, drive system scalability, and ensure high platform availability. Lead technical initiatives by mentoring emerging talent, contributing to architectural decisions, and applying modern software engineering best practices to improve development velocity and quality. Success in this role means establishing strong technical influence, driving resilient system-level innovations, and delivering solutions that underpin global digital communications.
Minimum Qualifications - Currently enrolled in one of the following:
-A Master's degree program
with 0 years of work experience;
-An undergraduate degree program (Associate's or Bachelor's)
with 2 years of work experience;
-An educational or workforce development program (e.g., Apprenticeship, Boot camp, or Certification)
with 2 years of work experience. - Qualifying education and work experience should be in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- Expected to continue enrollment in a degree or qualifying educational or workforce development program following completion of the internship.
- Strong proficiency in C and C++ systems programming, with demonstrated expertise in multi-threading, concurrency, memory optimization, and asynchronous architectures.
- In-depth understanding of operating systems internals (kernel/user space boundaries, process scheduling, virtual memory, IPC) and enterprise/SP networking protocols (L2/L3, TCP/IP, routing).
- Extensive hands-on experience developing, debugging, and profiling software in Linux environments using tools such as GDB, Valgrind, and Git.
Preferred Qualifications - Experience with Linux kernel development, embedded device drivers, RTOS, or high-throughput packet processing frameworks (e.g., DPDK, XDP).
- Knowledge of advanced routing and switching protocols (BGP, IS-IS, Segment Routing, MPLS, EVPN) or low-latency telemetry architectures.
- Proficiency in Python or Bash for developing automated testing frameworks and integrating with CI/CD infrastructure (Jenkins, GitHub Actions).
- Exposure to hardware/software interfaces (PCIe, I2C, SPI), FPGA/ASIC acceleration, or secure boot and embedded vulnerability mitigation.
