Software Engineering Technical Leader- Datapath
About The Position
The Cisco Distributed System Engineering (DSE) team develops the software platforms that power Cisco’s core and edge routing systems used in some of the world’s largest networks. The team focuses on building scalable distributed systems that support the increasing demands of AI/ML workloads and global internet traffic. Engineers collaborate closely with silicon, hardware, and open-source communities to deliver end‑to‑end networking solutions. The group is made up of highly collaborative engineers working across systems, software, and hardware domains in a fast‑paced environment. It’s an exciting opportunity to work on next‑generation routing platforms while contributing to innovations shaping the future of high‑performance networking.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 12+ years of experience, or a Master’s degree with 10+ years of experience
- 10+ years of programming experience using C, C++, and Python
- Experience with hardware bring‑up, device driver development, and Linux-based systems
- Experience with multi-threading, event handling, and state machine design
- Experience using kernel debugging tools such as GDB or KGDB to troubleshoot software from kernel modules to applications
- Experience working with NPU ASIC bring up, SDK and Datapath bring up
Nice To Haves
- Experience with AI/ML technologies or workloads in networking environments
- Knowledge of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking protocols
- Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills in complex distributed systems
- Experience working with network processors, optical networking, or high-performance networking platforms
- Experience leading New Platform Introduction (NPI) programs in networking or hardware-adjacent domains
- Experience with Silicon One SDK, Broadcom SDK is a plus
Responsibilities
- Architect, design, and develop platform software supporting network processing units (NPU), fabric, and SerDes components for Cisco core and edge routing platforms.
- Integrate with the Cisco Silicon One SDK to enable next‑generation routing capabilities.
- Develop and execute software test plans to validate functionality and performance of new networking platforms.
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to debug hardware prototypes and resolve complex system issues.
- Lead technical discussions and guide New Product Introduction (NPI) development from concept through first customer shipment (FCS) to ensure successful platform delivery.
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
- paid holidays
- floating holiday
- paid day off for employee’s birthday
- paid year-end holiday shutdown
- paid days off for personal wellness
- paid vacation time
- sick time off
- paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members
- paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
- annual bonuses
- performance-based incentive pay
- restricted stock units
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
