Cisco

Software Quality Engineer, Secure Firewall

Cisco • $138K — $198K *
Fulton, MD 20759In-Person
Information Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 5+ years in software quality engineering or network engineering.
  • Proficient in designing test scenarios and configuring test environments.
  • Experience in Python or similar scripting for test automation.
  • Linux or Unix administration and troubleshooting proficiency.
  • Skilled in leveraging generative AI for coding and testing automation.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute risk-based test plans for Cisco Secure Firewall products.
  • Validate complex end-to-end workflows across various networking capabilities.
  • Test deployment topologies in standalone, clustered, and cloud environments.
  • Perform comprehensive testing including feature integration and backward compatibility.
  • Create and maintain automated tests using Python frameworks.
  • Build and configure representative test environments with network devices and VMs.
  • Investigate and document complex software failures with technical evidence.

Benefits

  • Flexible work location in Fulton, MD or Austin, TX.
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge network security technologies.
  • Involvement in cross-functional quality and technical reviews.
  • Use of AI tools to innovate testing processes.
  • Engagement with a collaborative, geographically diverse team.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on: 10/01/2026This position is open to candidates in Fulton, MD or Austin, TX.

Meet the Team

Cisco's Network Security System and Integration Test (SIT) and System Test (ST) teams ensure the quality, reliability, and scalability of our Secure Firewall solutions, serving as a vital line of defense for our enterprise customers.

Your Impact

As a Software Quality Engineer, you will independently own assigned test areas and validate complex, end-to-end customer workflows across physical, virtual, and cloud environments. You will combine hands-on system testing, automation, network-security expertise, and disciplined defect investigation to identify integration and regression risks before release.

You will work closely with software development, platform, automation, product, and release teams throughout the development lifecycle. This role requires strong technical judgment, execution ownership, and clear communication of product-quality risks. In this role, you will:
  • Develop and execute risk-based test plans for Cisco Secure Firewall products and their management, data-plane, platform, and ecosystem integrations.
  • Validate end-to-end workflows across firewall management, threat inspection, routing, switching, NAT, VPN, identity, logging, policy deployment, and related security capabilities.
  • Test complex deployment topologies, including standalone, high-availability, clustered, multi-instance, virtualized, and cloud-based environments.
  • Perform feature integration, system, regression, upgrade, rollback, backward-compatibility, resiliency, recovery, scale, stress, and longevity testing.
  • Design, implement, maintain, and troubleshoot automated tests using Python-based frameworks and supporting tools.
  • Build, configure, and maintain representative test environments containing network devices, security appliances, traffic generators, virtual machines, and cloud resources.
  • Reproduce, isolate, and characterize complex software and system failures using packet captures, logs, traces, core files, system metrics, and diagnostic tools.
  • Document defects with clear reproduction procedures, technical evidence, business impact, and severity justification.
  • Participate in feature handoffs, technical reviews, test-plan reviews, defect triage, and cross-functional quality reviews.
  • Use AI-assisted engineering and testing tools where appropriate to accelerate test design, failure analysis, and automation development while validating outputs and protecting confidential information.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree + 5 years of experience in software quality engineering, system testing, network engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Experience designing test scenarios, selecting appropriate methodologies, and configuring the required test environments.
  • Experience using Python or a comparable scripting language for test automation and tooling.
  • Experience with Linux or Unix administration and troubleshooting skills.
  • Experience leveraging generative AI assistants across the software development lifecycle to accelerate coding, automate testing, and streamline work item management.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience testing network-security products such as firewalls, intrusion prevention or detection systems, secure gateways, or comparable security platforms.
  • Strong knowledge of TCP/IP and network troubleshooting.
  • Practical experience with:
    • Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking
    • LANs, link aggregation, and interface configurations
    • Static and dynamic routing, including OSPF and BGP
    • IPv4 and IPv6
    • NAT and access-control policies
    • Site-to-site and remote-access VPN technologies
    • High availability, failover, clustering, or redundant systems
  • Experience using packet-analysis and diagnostic tools such as Wireshark, tcpdump, system logs, debuggers, or equivalent utilities.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across geographically distributed teams.
  • Ability to investigate complex failures across multiple interacting components and communicate findings clearly.
  • Experience with Cisco Secure Firewall, including FTD, FMC, ASA, FXOS, Snort, or related technologies.
  • Experience with Python test frameworks such as pyATS, pytest, or comparable automation platforms.
  • Familiarity with REST APIs, Git-based development workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and automated test execution systems.
  • Experience validating upgrades, rollback, backward compatibility, configuration migration, and long-running production-like workloads.
  • Experience with performance, scale, stress, soak, resiliency, or fault-injection testing.
  • Familiarity with virtualization and cloud platforms such as VMware, KVM, AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
  • Experience with traffic-generation, protocol-simulation, or network-performance tools.
  • Knowledge of security threats, traffic inspection, identity integration, telemetry, logging, and observability.
  • Cisco networking or security certification, such as CCNP Enterprise or CCNP Security.


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
Telecommunications & Hardware
Net Income
$10.1 billion
Founded
2014
5 Year Trend
+1.4%
Revenue
$48 billion
NASDAQ
CSCO
* Ladders Estimates

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