Software Engineer - 8+yrs - C/C++, Cellular/Wireless/Satellite Communications

Cisco Systems, Inc.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a software engineer for the Cisco IIOT team in Bengaluru to drive design and development of next‑generation Control Plane and Data Plane software for industrial networking platforms.

You will lead features, contribute to IP value, and work across global teams to deliver robust, scalable solutions with strong emphasis on Linux-based internals and AI-assisted tooling.

Qualifications

• Minimum: Bachelor's (8-12 years) or Master's (6-10 years) in Computer Science, Electrical/Electrical & Computer Engineering or related fields.
• Experience with control plane software or data plane software, data structures, Wireless experience (802.11ac/ax/be), Linux/RTOS/Networking OS internals.
• Strong understanding and development experience in LEO satellite communication systems and architectures.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop IIoT hardware platforms and ensure integration between hardware and software.
• Develop control plane and data plane software for Cisco IIOT Switching and Routing products.
• Write low-level software components including BSP, device drivers and kernel modules.
• Analyze requirements and produce design documents and functional specs.
• Code and unit test components; perform white-box testing and automation.
• Review PRDs and test strategies with cross-functional teams; support test plans.
• Innovate ideas for IP and potential patents.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Linux/RTOS

Networking OS internals

Gen AI/NLP

Technical leadership

Debugging/Test automation

Education

Bachelor's/Master's in CS/EE/ECE

Tools

Linux kernel

Device drivers

BSP

IXIA/Sniffer

CCNA/CCNP/CCIE

Job description

Meet the Team

Join the Cisco IIOT team in product development for Industrial IOT switching and routing products that transforms industrial operations. Cisco's IIOT team provides an outstanding, unique experience for software engineers by combining the resources offered by a sizable multi-geography organization and a large campus (with an on-site gym, healthcare, café, social interest groups, and philanthropy) with the startup culture and breadth of growth opportunities that working in a smaller teams can provide.

Your Impact

In this pivotal role, you will drive the design and development of next-generation Control Plane and Data Plane software for Cisco's groundbreaking Networking and Network Security Platforms. Demonstrating AI and AI assist technologies, you will translate complex requirements into robust, scalable solutions, directly influencing the security and performance of Cisco's global infrastructure. You will lead significant features, innovate new intellectual property, and play a crucial part in shaping the future of secure networking.

Responsibilities

• Design and development of IIoT hardware platforms, ensuring seamless integration between hardware and software layers.
• Design and development of control plane and data plane software for Cisco IIOT Switching, Routing products.
• Design and develop low-level software components, including BSP, device drivers and kernel modules.
• Analyse requirements and problem statements to come with right software designs and solutions. To be able to write details Design documents and Functional Specifications.
• To Code and Unit Test Software components and modules. It is required to have strong white- box testing and automating skills. Triage, debug, and root cause simulation, software bring-up, and customer failures
• Work with local and remote teams to review Product Requirements Document,to collaborate on SW Functional and Design Specifications, Unit and Integration test plans. Also responsible for reviewing test strategy and test plans for Functional and System Test teams.
• To be able to innovate and come up with new ideas that can lead to filing patents and creating IP value for the company

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors (8-12 years) or Master’s degree(6-10 years) in Computer Science, EE/ECE or related fields.
• Prior work experience withcontrol plane software or data plane software, data structures, Wireless experience (802.11ac/ax/be), Linux/RTOS/Networking OS internals
• Strong understanding and development experience in LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite communication systems and architectures.
• Knowledge of Starlink services, user terminals, gateways, and satellite internet connectivity.
• Experience with LTE, 5G NR, cellular gateways, SIM-based connectivity, and wireless communication systems.
• Understanding of satellite-based wireless backhaul architectures.
• Strong understanding of OS (e.g. Linux, RTOS, Unix) and experience working with Linux kernel, device drivers, and BSPs.
• Proficient in writing quality code in C/C++.
• Experience in developing software/firmware for networking products.
• Excellent knowledge of software architecture and system design.
• Experience using Traffic generators/Analyzers such as IXIA/Sniffer is a plus.
• Technical leadership experience in leading high performance teams to provide technical leadership for designing and implementing quality features and solutions.
• Hands on experience with Gen AI assistant technologies, natural language processing (NLP) or Gen AI technologies (OpenAI, Gemini, MCP, Agentic AI etc..)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with debugging and verification methodologies
• You have hands-on development experience on L2, L3 protocols.
• Cisco Networking certificates such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIE are desirable.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We've been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.