Cisco

Software Engineering Technical Leader

Cisco • $214K — $309K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree plus 12 years or Master's degree plus 8 years or PhD plus 5 years of relevant experience.
  • Extensive knowledge of network operating systems.
  • Proficiency in routing and switching software such as BGP, SONiC, and SRv6.
  • 8+ years of software development experience using C, C++, or Python.
  • Advanced technical acumen to advise engineering and business leadership.

Responsibilities

  • Lead design and implementation of advanced networking capabilities across various platforms.
  • Collaborate with architecture and product teams to deliver production-ready solutions.
  • Develop and document technical designs while debugging complex issues.
  • Drive upstream contributions to open-source projects, enhancing competitiveness.
  • Create innovative strategies for AI backend and data-center networks.
  • Represent Cisco in technical forums and engage with industry stakeholders.
  • Mentor senior engineers and foster knowledge sharing throughout the organization.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
  • Participation in open-source initiatives and industry events.
  • Flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance.
  • Collaborative culture that values innovation and teamwork.
  • Access to cutting-edge technologies and resources.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 10/01/2026
Your Impact

As a Software Engineering Technical Leader you will lead the design and implementation of advanced SONiC networking capabilities across SRv6, uSID, MRC, IPM, BGP, EVPN, VXLAN, and AI-scale data-center fabrics. Partners with architecture, product management, hardware, platform, and customer teams to deliver production-ready solutions across SONiC, FRR, SAI, Linux, and merchant-silicon platforms. Creates technical design and user documentation, debugs complex issues across development and production environments, drives upstream open-source contributions, and brings new ideas that improve Cisco's competitiveness in data-center and AI networking.

  • Recognized as a technical expert in SONiC, SRv6, MRC, and AI infrastructure networking.
  • Leads the architecture and development of complex features across SONiC, FRR, SAI, Linux, and merchant-silicon platforms.
  • Drives SRv6/uSID, MRC, and IPM capabilities from technical design through implementation, validation, and production readiness.
  • Develops solutions for traffic engineering, packet spraying, multipath resiliency, failure recovery, telemetry, performance measurement, and large-scale network fabrics.
  • Leads integration and validation on Broadcom Tomahawk and Cisco Silicon One platforms.
  • Drives interoperability between SONiC, IOS XR, and other industry routing platforms.
  • Proactively identifies and resolves complex software, protocol, performance, scale, and hardware-integration issues.
  • Develops and delivers innovative technical strategies for AI backend, scale-up, scale-out, cloud, and hyperscale data-center networks.
  • Leads major projects that influence Cisco's SONiC product direction and open networking strategy.
  • Contributes to SONiC, SAI, FRR, OCP, IETF, and other open-source and industry initiatives.
  • Defines and drives unit, system, scale, interoperability, regression, and fault-injection testing strategies.
  • Builds long-term relationships with internal teams, customers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
  • Represents Cisco in technical forums, working groups, customer engagements, and external industry events.
  • Leads features from technical design through completion while negotiating trade-offs in architecture, performance, schedule, and product requirements.
  • Leads, mentors, and influences senior engineers while improving technical knowledge sharing across the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree plus 12 years of related experience, or Master's degree plus 8 years of related experience, or PhD plus 5 years of related experience.
  • Experience with network operating systems.
  • Experience with routing and switching software like BGP, SONiC, SRv6, or large-scale data-center networking.
  • 8 + years of software development experience using C, C++, or Python

Preferred Qualifications

  • Advanced technical acumen with the ability to serve as a technical advisor to engineering and business leadership.
  • Hands-on experience with SONiC, SRv6/uSID, MRC, IPM, BGP, EVPN, VXLAN, VPN, MPLS, and Ethernet fabrics.
  • Experience with FRR, SAI, Linux networking, Broadcom Tomahawk, merchant silicon, or Cisco Silicon One.
  • Experience with AI infrastructure, hyperscale networks, leaf-spine fabrics, scale-up/scale-out architectures, or GPU networking.
  • Experience with IOS XR interoperability, Secure Boot, HSM/PKCS#11 signing, platform integration, and trusted software workflows.
  • Contributions to SONiC or other open-source projects, technical publications, patents, standards bodies, or industry forums.


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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