Embedded Software Engineer

Cisco•San Jose, CA

About The Position

Team Fusion develops embedded software for Cisco networking platforms, including hyperscaler-class switches, ultra-low-end campus switches, and selected wireless devices. The team is also responsible for hardware security and manufacturing software for cloud dashboard products. As a Software Engineer, you will design, develop, debug, and validate embedded software for Cisco networking devices. You will work closely with hardware and silicon and partner with platform, ASIC, systems, security, manufacturing, and product teams. The role includes developing bootloaders, BSPs, diagnostics, platform software, and low-level device drivers; bringing up new switch and wireless platforms; debugging issues on prototypes and production devices; building automated hardware-in-the-loop validation; and maintaining firmware CI/CD workflows.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 5 years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree with 3 years of relevant experience.
Proficient programming experience in C for embedded, systems, firmware, or device-driver development.
Prior experience developing, debugging, and validating embedded systems or platform software on Linux.
Prior experience writing software test plans and automated validation for hardware-dependent software.
Strong ownership, communication, and technical judgment, and ability to work effectively in a cross-functional engineering environment.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of networking fundamentals and protocols, including Ethernet, TCP/IP, VLANs, MAC learning, and Layer 2/3 forwarding.
Experience with Linux kernel development or debugging, GDB/KGDB, JTAG, U-Boot, Yocto, or embedded build systems.
Proficiency in Python and experience with Pytest or similar test automation frameworks.
Experience with Git, Jira, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or other CI/CD systems.
Familiarity with secure boot, hardware roots of trust, TrustZone, cryptographic signing, or product security processes.
Experience with wireless or radio-connected embedded devices, such as Wi-Fi or BLE.
Experience with power, thermal, performance, or reliability characterization of embedded or edge-compute platforms.
Experience with C++, Go, shell scripting, or AI/ML edge workloads.

Responsibilities

Develop bootloader, BSP, diagnostics, platform software, and low-level device drivers for networking hardware.
Bring up new switch and wireless platforms on Linux and embedded systems, working across CPU, memory, buses, peripherals, storage, and networking components.
Debug complex hardware/software issues on prototypes and production devices using logs, traces, debuggers, serial consoles, and lab-based test equipment.
Build automated hardware-in-the-loop validation and regression infrastructure for real devices, including Python/Pytest test suites, testbed orchestration, power/thermal measurements, and stability testing.
Develop and maintain CI/CD workflows for compiling, testing, analyzing, signing, packaging, and releasing firmware.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Basic life insurance.
Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
Paid day off for an employee’s birthday.
Paid year-end holiday shutdown.
Paid personal wellness days.
Paid vacation or flexible vacation time off, depending on employee classification.
Sick time off.
Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues.
Optional paid volunteer days.
Annual bonuses for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies.
Employees may be eligible for Cisco restricted stock unit grants.