Software Engineer Compiler II (Full Time) – United States

Cisco•Austin, TX

1d•Remote

About The Position

Network Engineering builds the foundational software and hardware systems that connect the world. Within our Core Platform Software and Toolchains organization, our team develops, optimizes, and maintains the mission-critical compiler, debugger, and code analysis toolchains that power Cisco IOS-XE, Silicon One, and cloud-scale routing platforms. We operate at the leading edge of systems engineering—bridging modern processor architectures with LLVM/GCC optimizations, custom IR transformations, and high-fidelity runtime debugging infrastructure. As active contributors to the open source toolchain ecosystem, we solve complex low-level engineering challenges to maximize code generation efficiency, developer velocity, and binary resilience across Cisco's global product portfolio. As a Compiler Software Engineer II, you will architect, implement, and optimize advanced compilation, code analysis, and debugging toolchains that power Cisco's core networking platforms. You will develop sophisticated compiler transformations and runtime diagnostic tools in modern C/C++, optimize LLVM/GCC backends and intermediate representations (IR) for ARM64 and x86 architectures, and enhance GDB/LLDB debugging capabilities. You will build robust automated validation pipelines using Python and CI/CD frameworks, advance DWARF debug format standards, and integrate AI-assisted developer productivity tooling into modern engineering workflows. Success in this role means driving end-to-end toolchain excellence, delivering high-performance code generation improvements, and contributing impactful enhancements to open-source systems.

Requirements

Demonstrated proficiency in C and C++ (C++17/C++20) with strong foundations in systems programming, memory management, pointer arithmetic, and core algorithms.
Hands-on academic research, project, or industry experience in compiler construction, intermediate representations (IR), code generation, or LLVM/GCC backend infrastructure.
Strong understanding of computer architecture (ARM64 or x86), assembly language, operating system internals, and runtime debugging fundamentals (GDB, LLDB, DWARF).

Nice To Haves

Hands-on experience contributing to or extending open-source toolchains (LLVM, Clang, GCC, GDB, LLDB), including writing custom LLVM optimization passes or toolchain diagnostics.
Deep familiarity with DWARF debug format specifications, object file structures (ELF), symbol resolution, linkers (LLD, Gold), and binary utilities (GNU Binutils).
Experience developing automated regression testing frameworks and performance benchmark suites using Python and Linux shell utilities in modern CI/CD pipelines.
Experience configuring, cross-compiling, and packaging toolchains for Embedded Linux, RTOS, or large-scale distributed networking operating systems.

Responsibilities

Architect, implement, and optimize advanced compilation, code analysis, and debugging toolchains that power Cisco's core networking platforms.
Develop sophisticated compiler transformations and runtime diagnostic tools in modern C/C++.
Optimize LLVM/GCC backends and intermediate representations (IR) for ARM64 and x86 architectures.
Enhance GDB/LLDB debugging capabilities.
Build robust automated validation pipelines using Python and CI/CD frameworks.
Advance DWARF debug format standards.
Integrate AI-assisted developer productivity tooling into modern engineering workflows.
Drive end-to-end toolchain excellence.
Deliver high-performance code generation improvements.
Contribute impactful enhancements to open-source systems.

Benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance
a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
paid parental leave
short and long-term disability coverage
basic life insurance
grants of Cisco restricted stock units
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
paid year-end holiday shutdown
4 paid days off for personal wellness
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year (non-exempt employees)
flexible vacation time off program (exempt employees)
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
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
10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
annual bonuses (for non-sales roles)
performance-based incentive pay (for sales roles)