Senior Software Engineer, Solution Validation, Benchmarking & Release Engineering

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

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in Milpitas, CA is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to own CVIS/NVIS AI cluster validation, end-to-end solution testing, RA certification, GPU debugging, and performance profiling.

You will model workloads, profile performance, identify bottlenecks, and produce benchmark reports while validating Cisco network-switch integrations and coordinating with cross-functional teams to meet release gates and quality targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of related experience, or Master's with 4+ years, or PhD with 1+ year.
• Experience building and executing end-to-end validation for GPU or distributed AI systems.
• Experience with test strategy, automation, Python, Linux, performance analysis, and defect-triage skills.
• Ability to translate system requirements into measurable tests, acceptance criteria, and release gates.
• Experience with technical writing and cross-functional communication.

Responsibilities

• Develop test plans, validation matrices, automation, and exit criteria for AI cluster solutions.
• Execute CVIS/NVIS, AI Cluster Validation, GPU burn, NCCL, workload, resilience, and interoperability test suites.
• Model workloads, profile end-to-end performance, analyze bottlenecks, and produce benchmark reports.
• Validate Cisco network-switch, multi-plane, ToR, compute, storage, and software integrations.
• Drive defect triage, evidence collection, release qualification, RA certification, and acceptance-report packaging.

Skills

End-to-end validation

GPU validation

Test strategy

Automation

Python

Linux

Performance analysis

Defect triage

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

NVIDIA NVIS

NCCL

Kubernetes

Slurm

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 11/29/2026

Meet the Team

Cisco Validated Infrastructure Services (CVIS) establishes and proves the performance of large AI clusters before they are handed over to customers. We deploy each cluster, validate it against performance baselines, and deliver the evidence that it is ready for service. The platform behind that work is full stack. It combines workflow and API services, network and infrastructure automation, and the UI used to run validation across labs and customer environments.

Your Impact

As a Senior Software Engineer, you will own CVIS/NVIS, AI Cluster Validation, end-to-end solution testing, RA certification, GPU debugging, performance profiling, bottleneck analysis, acceptance criteria, test plan and automation, release qualification, and readiness across AI cluster and Cisco network-switch solutions. You will:

• Develop test plans, validation matrices, automation, and exit criteria for AI cluster solutions.
• Execute CVIS/NVIS, AI Cluster Validation, GPU burn, NCCL, workload, resilience, and interoperability test suites.
• Model workloads, profile end-to-end performance, analyze bottlenecks, and produce benchmark reports.
• Validate Cisco network-switch, multi-plane, ToR, compute, storage, and software integrations.
• Drive defect triage, evidence collection, release qualification, RA certification, and acceptance-report packaging.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors + 7 years of related experience, or Masters + 4 years of related experience, or PHD +1 year of related experience, or equivalent related work experience.
• Experience building and executing end-to-end validation for GPU or distributed AI systems.
• Experience with test strategy, automation, Python, Linux, performance analysis, and defect-triage skills.
• Prior experience translating system requirements into measurable tests, acceptance criteria, and release gates.
• Experience with technical writing and cross-functional communication.

Preferred Qualifications:

• NVIS, NVIDIA GPU platforms, NCCL, Kubernetes, Slurm, network testing, and storage validation.
• Benchmark engineering, workload modeling, CI-based testing, observability, and release management.
• Experience with Cisco networking and AI cluster reference architectures.

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.