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

Cisco; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,800,000 - 4,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Bengaluru invites an experienced BIOS/embedded software engineer to join the Data Center Networking Group. You will contribute to the Nexus 9000 family and next-gen data center platforms, owning platform software, BIOS development, and driver UX across PCIe, I2C, SPI, and related interfaces.

You will collaborate with hardware and software teams, test and debug at the board level, and help deliver scalable, low-latency solutions for large-scale networks in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher with substantial BIOS/embedded development experience.
• Hands-on engineer contributing to architecture and platform development.
• Deep knowledge of hardware boards, BIOS architecture and peripherals.
• Experience with BIOS/GRUB/UBOOT, Linux device drivers, and networking stacks.
• Exposure to XAUI/Serdes interfaces and related hardware.
• Strong debugging using hardware and memory tools.
• Ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Develop SDKs for next-gen network ASICs.

Responsibilities

• Own design and development of BIOS/embedded software for Cisco platforms.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to deliver platform features.
• Debug and validate driver stacks and peripheral interfaces.
• Translate feature requirements into robust software designs.
• Engage with customers and internal teams for escalation and support.

Skills

BIOS development

Embedded systems

C language

Linux device drivers

Networking stack

Debugging skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

GRUB/UBOOT

UEFI architecture

PCI/PCIe

I2C

SPI

FPGA/CPLD

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 and technical leaders within the BU on design/functional and architectural aspects of features and components across Cisco products.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors + 10 years of related experience OR Masters + 6 years of related experience OR PhD + 3 years of related experience
• Solid conceptual and practical knowledge in BIOS and embedded product development
• Hands-on Engineer who can work alongside 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+, 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 3rd party ASICs/network processors highly desired
• Excellent debugging skills and rich experience using hardware, memory debugging tools
• Develop innovative solutions to revolutionize 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

• Bachelors/master's degree in computer science/engineering or electrical engineering
• Two to five years bios development experience
• Proficient in C language, familiar with lower-level assembly language
• Understand UEFI architecture and UEFI driver 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