Senior Software Engineer - Cisco IOS-XE (Hybrid)

Cisco Systems, Inc; Milpitas (CA); Hybrid; USD 168,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in Milpitas seeks a Software Engineer to design, develop, and maintain low-level systems for Cisco IOS-XE Image Install. You will work on Linux, C/C++, and high-availability kernels to ensure secure, scalable networking for global customers.

Join a team that mentors engineers, emphasizes Design Thinking, and delivers robust upgrade and provisioning mechanisms across enterprise devices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 7 years of related experience, Master’s degree plus 4 years of related experience, or PhD plus 1 year of related experience.
• Application of C for memory management, concurrency, and multithreading.
• Experience with Linux systems programming, including POSIX IPC, sockets, and process lifecycle management.
• Experience in distributed system architecture, specifically control plane and data plane separation.
• Experience with debugging tools including GDB, Linux tracing utilities, and post-mortem crash analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain high-quality code by applying advanced C/C++ and Linux systems programming to solve complex networking challenges.
• Lead technical features from initial conception through production delivery to ensure our software remains robust, scalable, and secure.
• Drive the software development lifecycle by integrating Design Thinking principles to optimize system reliability and performance in high-availability environments.
• Mentor junior engineers and collaborate across functional teams to advocate for product innovation that creates long-term customer value.
• Identify technical risks early and conduct rigorous code reviews to maintain the integrity of our distributed systems and networking infrastructure.

Skills

C/C++

Linux systems programming

Memory management

Concurrency

Multithreading

Distributed systems

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

GDB

Linux tracing utilities

Post-mortem crash analysis

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/29/2026

This role requires to be onsite in a hybrid model 4 times a week in our Milpitas office.

MEET THE TEAM

Our team serves as the engine of innovation, dedicated to building software that simplifies complex networking challenges through a user-centric, Design Thinking approach. We operate at the critical intersection of product management and engineering, ensuring our solutions provide seamless connectivity for a global customer base. Our group consists of high-performing, collaborative experts who thrive on transparency and a culture of continuous learning. We are most excited about pushing the boundaries of scale and velocity while directly shaping the future of Cisco’s software ecosystem. This high-impact environment offers a unique opportunity to influence both the architectural direction and the user experience of our most advanced networking platforms.

Welcome to the heart of Cisco’s enterprise networking innovation. We are the IOS-XE Image Install engineering team, a group of passionate systems software professionals dedicated to powering the infrastructure that connects the world.

OUR MISSION & IMPACT

In today's digital landscape, network downtime is simply not an option. Our team owns the critical Image Install component of Cisco IOS-XE, the operating system running across Cisco's industry-leading enterprise switching, routing, and wireless portfolios. We architect and deliver the software lifecycle management mechanisms that allow millions of enterprise devices to upgrade, provision, and recover seamlessly. From automated zero-touch provisioning to robust in-service software upgrades (ISSU), our code ensures mission-critical networks remain secure, resilient, and always online.

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE & CULTURE

We operate at the intersection of deep systems programming and modern software engineering. Our work requires a rigorous understanding of Linux kernel mechanics, flash file systems, bootloaders, and high-availability architecture. We believe that true reliability begins with elegant design, rigorous automated testing, and a culture of continuous learning. As a team, we champion technical ownership, collaborative problem-solving, and a relentless drive for quality.

WHY JOIN US AS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER?

This is a unique opportunity to shape the foundational architecture of Cisco’s next-generation networking platforms. As a Software Engineer on our team, you will not just write code; you will architect robust, low-level systems that handle complex failure scenarios gracefully and scale to meet the demands of global enterprises. You will work alongside seasoned industry experts who are eager to mentor, collaborate, and push the boundaries of what is possible in network operating systems.

If you have a passion for low-level systems engineering, a commitment to reliability, and the drive to impact how the world communicates, we invite you to build your career with us at Cisco.

YOUR IMPACT

Design, develop, and maintain high-quality code by applying advanced C/C++ and Linux systems programming to solve complex networking challenges. Lead technical features from initial conception through production delivery to ensure our software remains robust, scalable, and secure. Drive the software development lifecycle by integrating Design Thinking principles to optimize system reliability and performance in high-availability environments. Mentor junior engineers and collaborate across functional teams to advocate for product innovation that creates long-term customer value. Identify technical risks early and conduct rigorous code reviews to maintain the integrity of our distributed systems and networking infrastructure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree plus 7 years of related experience, Master’s degree plus 4 years of related experience, or PhD plus 1 year of related experience.
• Application of C for memory management, concurrency, and multithreading.
• Experience with Linux systems programming, including POSIX IPC, sockets, and process lifecycle management.
• Experience in distributed system architecture, specifically control plane and data plane separation.
• Experience with debugging tools including GDB, Linux tracing utilities, and post-mortem crash analysis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated ability to lead medium-scale technical features from initial design to successful production deployment.
• Proven experience mentoring peers and junior engineers to foster technical growth and team excellence.
• Exceptional cross-functional communication skills, including technical writing, presentation, and stakeholder management.
• Experience with threat modeling and production monitoring to ensure system security and high availability.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative environment and advocate for user-centric innovation using Design Thinking.

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.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $167,700.00 to $245,200.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto the next

• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members

• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$167,700.00 - $282,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$149,100.00 - $250,900.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.