Cisco

Staff Software Engineer

Cisco$163K — $234K *
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8+ years in software engineering with proficiency in at least one programming language (Go, Python, Java).
  • 5+ years designing and implementing distributed systems, including database and API communication paradigms (REST).
  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes, and microservices-based architectures (2+ years preferred).
  • Experience with public cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure) (3+ years preferred).
  • 5+ years diagnosing issues using observability and diagnostic tools.

Responsibilities

  • Own features through the complete software development lifecycle, including AI.
  • Translate customer needs into technical solutions, balancing speed, quality, and reliability.
  • Design and maintain highly scalable, distributed systems handling large data volumes.
  • Identify and resolve pre-production bottlenecks and production issues to enhance system resilience.
  • Collaborate with product managers and cross-functional teams for impactful customer outcomes.
  • Participate in on-call rotations to resolve production issues and ensure reliability.
  • Mentor junior engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Benefits

  • Collaborative environment with capable peers across various teams.
  • Stable and supportive workplace, adapting to team needs.
  • Focus on work-life balance and responsibility.
  • Commitment to employee happiness and a positive workplace culture.
Full Job Description
The application window is expected to close on:
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Our team builds and operates large-scale services that orchestrate updates and changes across customer environments in Splunk Cloud. We work at a significant scale across AWS, GCP, and Kubernetes, supporting both traditional and containerized workloads. This is an opportunity to apply deep cloud and distributed systems expertise while driving the next generation of automation that powers Splunk Cloud. Our work directly influences reliability, scalability, and customer trust, and we are continuously evolving how we build, deploy, and operate systems at scale.

What you'll do
  • Own features end-to-end across the complete software development lifecycle including AI, spanning requirements gathering, technical design, implementation, testing, automation, deployment, and ongoing operational ownership in production.
  • Translate customer and business needs into clear technical solutions, making thoughtful trade-offs that balance speed, quality, and reliability.
  • Design, build, and maintain highly scalable, distributed systems that handle large volumes of data.
  • Identify and resolve pre-production bottlenecks and production issues, improving system resilience and performance.
    Participate in design and code reviews, contributing to shared engineering standards and long-term system health.
  • Partner closely with product managers, SREs, and cross-functional teams to deliver meaningful customer outcomes.
  • Participate in a rotating on-call schedule, diagnosing and resolving production issues to ensure reliability and customer trust.
  • Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of learning, ownership, and continuous improvement.

What will help you succeed
  • Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate across teams and disciplines.
  • A strong ownership mindset, with a proactive approach to identifying problems and driving solutions.
  • Drive and resilience when working through complex, ambiguous, or high impact
    challenges.
  • Goal orientation, with the ability to turn high-level objectives into measurable outcomes.
  • Openness to change and experimentation, including curiosity and passion around AI-assisted development, automation, and operational tooling.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 8+ years of professional experience in software engineering and proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Go, Python, or Java.
  • 5+ years of experience in the design and implementation of distributed systems, including databases, distributed file systems, concurrency control, consistency models with API communication paradigms, including REST.

Preferred Qualifications
  • 2+ years of experience with CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes, container ecosystems, and microservices-based architectures.
  • 3+ years of experience working with public cloud providers, such as AWS, GCP, or Azure.
  • 5+ years of experience with debugging, troubleshooting, and the use of observability and diagnostic tools.
  • Experience developing or deploying applications using LLMs, RAG pipelines, MCP, and multi-agent frameworks.

What we offer
  • A team of incredibly capable and dedicated peers, all the way from engineering to product management and customer support.
  • A stable, collaborative, and supportive work environment. We work in an open environment, work together to get things done, and adapt to the changing needs for the team. We keep it real by being open and honest.
  • Balance. We want you to be successful outside of work, too. We trust our colleagues to be responsible for their time and commitment and believe that balance helps cultivate a positive environment.
  • Fun. We are committed to having every employee want to give it their all, be respectful and a part of the family, and have a smile on their face while doing it


The starting salary range posted for this position is $163,600.00 to $234,600.00 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:
$183,800.00 - $303,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$163,600.00 - $269,800.00

* 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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