Cisco

Software Engineer

Cisco$126K — $182K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 5 years or more of relevant experience, or Master’s with 3 years, or PhD with no experience.
  • Proficient in current technologies and understanding of the software development lifecycle.
  • Experience in secure coding practices and user privacy principles.
  • Familiarity with agile engineering methodologies and best development practices.
  • Effective in relationship-building with colleagues and stakeholders across teams.

Responsibilities

  • Develop software aligned with Cisco's 'Design Thinking Principles', focusing on user experience.
  • Create and maintain technical and user documentation for software solutions.
  • Collaborate with design and product management teams to develop customer-centric solutions.
  • Debug software issues in both development and production environments.
  • Mentor less experienced colleagues and guide them through software development tasks.
  • Lead small-to-medium projects, ensuring alignment with the software engineering roadmap.
  • Advocate and propose new features based on customer needs and industry trends.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with a company match.
  • Paid parental leave and family emergency support.
  • Flexible vacation time policy for exempt employees, unlimited within business constraints.
  • Various paid holidays, personal wellness days, and a day off for employee birthdays.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 08/05/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Develops software consistent with Cisco 'Design Thinking Principles' with a focus on simplification and UX (User Experience) at its core, using secure coding practices, ensuring user privacy, and following software development best practices. Partners with other teams including design and product management to create the right solution for the customers. Creates technical design documentation to be used by the team as well as contributing to user documentation to be used by end users. Debugs and addresses software issues during development and in production systems to support customers. Brings new ideas for product innovation and helps improve software development processes.

What You'll Do:
• Experienced professional using best practices and knowledge of internal or external business issues to improve products or services.
• Works independently but receives guidance and direction from leader then determines best approach to accomplish work.
• Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience.
• Develops relationship with peer stakeholders within and across teams and builds productive working relationships.
• May lead projects with limited complexity to execute the defined software engineering roadmap.
• May lead small-to-medium features from technical design through completion.
• Stays current on industry trends and serves as an expert on the software development lifecycle and agile engineering practices; coaches others, as needed.
• Contributes to delivery of high-quality design and deliverables.
• Advocates for new features within a product to address customer needs.
• Tracks metrics for product adoption and success.
• Writes functional clean code and unit tests with minimal guidance.
• Performs coding, debugging, testing, and troubleshooting throughout the development process under minimal supervision.
• Performs code reviews for others in project.
• Writes code enabling scale, reliability, and velocity in product releases.
• Contributes as an expert in secure coding principles and understands threat model of a feature.
• Troubleshoots complex issues within the production environment, may serve customers through on-call rotations to identify end user problems, may lead postmortem and write root cause analysis.
• Expert on multiple functional components.
• Shares knowledge across teams, both informally and formally (e.g., ad-hoc basis, internal presentations, blogs, newsletters).
• Coordinates and collaborates on project timelines and continuously reviews, updates, and communicates project specifications to team members and stakeholders.
• Develops remediation plans and alternatives to ensure timely delivery.
• Identifies and acts upon opportunities to assist others.
• Mentors peers and/or engineering interns.

Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelors + 5 years of related experience, or Masters + 3 years of related experience, or PhD + 0 years of related experience.
• Requires working knowledge and expanded conceptual knowledge in primary technical job family and broadens capabilities; has worked with and is proficient with current technologies.

Preferred Qualifications
Varies based on the team and business needs | Preferred Qualifications are desired education, experience, and skills that are in addition to Minimum Qualifications.

The starting salary range posted for this position is $126,500.00 to $182,000.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco's plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco's policies:
  • 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, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
  • Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
  • Exempt employees participate in Cisco's flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)
  • 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
  • Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
  • Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer


For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco's policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:
  • .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;
  • 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;
  • 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and
  • Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.


For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:
$152,500.00 - $252,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$135,800.00 - $224,400.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco's sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.

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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