Software Engineering Technical Leader | C, BIOS , UEFI | 15+ Years

Cisco Systems, Inc.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in Bengaluru seeks a hands-on BIOS/embedded software engineer to contribute to platform development for data center hardware. You will work with cross-functional teams on BIOS/GRUB/uboot, Linux drivers, and networking stack.

The ideal candidate will have strong debugging skills, experience with PCIe, I2C, SPI, UEFI, and chassis management, and a passion for building next‑generation data center products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher with extensive BIOS/embedded product development experience.
• Solid knowledge in BIOS/GRUB/uboot, Linux device drivers and networking stack.
• Understanding of hardware boards, layout, and BIOS architecture.
• Experience with PCI/PCIE, I2C, SPI, and peripheral handling on x86/ARM platforms.
• Exposure to XAUI/Serdes/SGMI/MSA standards.
• Chassis management experience is a plus.
• Strong debugging skills with hardware/memory tools.
• Ability to contribute to architecture and feature development.
• Self-motivated, flexible in a fast-paced setting.
• Develop SDK for next-gen network ASIC.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and implement BIOS/embedded software.
• Develop and debug BIOS/UEFI drivers and Linux kernel components.
• Contribute to platform development lifecycle and hardware bring-up.
• Assist in hardware debugging and memory analysis for optimization.

Skills

C language

lower-level assembly

UEFI

device drivers

debugging

networking stack

BIOS development

platform development

Education

Bachelor/master’s degree in computer science/engineering or electrical engineering

Two-to-five-year bios development experience

Job description

Meet The Team

Data Center Networking Group develops the Nexus 9000 line of data center and cloud switches that feature application awareness to make the network infrastructure flexible and agile for dynamic response to application needs and virtual machine workload mobility.

As we realize our modernization strategies and move into new markets, our diverse, inclusive culture also creates a competitive advantage for Cisco. It ensures we have the fresh ideas and execution capabilities and the local knowledge to best serve our customers and build Cisco brand recognition around the globe. By gaining a better understanding of the world and the differences in its people we can change the way it works, lives, plays, and learns.

You will have the opportunity to work closely with Customers, Product Marketing, Hardware and Software groups and delivering the products.

Your Impact

Here is an excellent opportunity to join Cisco's Distributed Software Engineering [DSE] business unit, where you will be working on next generation data center products that enable large scale, low-latency, high speed networks. You will also be working on switching solutions, better equipping customers to handle growing workloads.

You have a unique opportunity to be part of the product development from ground up (Platforms and Software). You would be part of a dynamic team which works hand-in-hand with product marketing, testing, escalation and support team as a cohesive unit to deliver world class quality products. You will have ownership of multiple components and play an important role in understanding new feature requirements, developing software design based on functional specifications and engaging with customers. You will be interacting with peer engineers / technical leaders within the BU on design/functional and architectural aspects of features and components across Cisco products.

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelors + 10 years of related experience OR Masters + 6 years of related experience OR PhD + 3 year of related experience
• Requires solid conceptual and practical knowledge in BIOS and embedded product development
• Hands on Engineer who can work along with senior folks contributing to Architecture, design and development of platform development cycle
• In depth understanding of hardware boards, layout, BIOS architecture
• Development experience in one or more areas of BIOS/GRUB/uboot, linux device drivers/ Linux KLM, networking stack, memory model
• Development experience on PCH and peripherals PCI, I2C, SPI, Higig+ bus, FPGA and CPLD handling, handling os special devices and peripherals – I2C-GPIO expanders.
• Exposure to standards – XAUI, SGMI, Serdes, SGMII, MSA
• Development experience in Chassis management
• Knowledge of asic forwarding, Linux drivers and 3rdparty ASICs/network processors highly desired.
• Excellent debugging skills and rich experience using various hardware, memory debugging tools
• Develop innovative solutions to revolutionize for the next generation data center.
• Ability to self-motivate with a strong desire to learn, and ability to be flexible
• Flexibility in a fast paced, ever-changing, deadline-driven environment
• Develop SDK for next generation feature rich network ASIC

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor/master’s degree in computer science/engineering or electrical engineering.
• Two-to-five-year bios development experience.
• Proficient in C language, familiar with lower-level assembly language
• UnderstandUEFIarchitecture andUEFIdriver developments.
• PCI/PCIE, SATA/NVME, USB, SPI and I2C development experience in x86 and ARM platforms
• Strong lower-level debugging skills across hardware and software

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.