Software Engineer Complier I (Full Time) – United States

Engg; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 114,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with Cisco matching

Paid parental leave

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a Compiler and Debugger Software Engineer to design and maintain advanced toolchains powering Cisco's core networking platforms. You will work on compiler optimizations, runtime diagnostics, and debugger enhancements across ARM64 and x86, with Python-driven CI/CD automation.

You will contribute to LLVM infrastructure, DWARF, and open-source toolchains, while promoting secure coding practices and high software performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Proficient in C or C++ with memory management and data structures.
• Foundational understanding of ARM/x86 architectures and OS fundamentals.
• Experience with compiler construction, LLVM, or debuggers (GDB/LLDB).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain advanced compilation and debugging toolchains.
• Develop compiler enhancements and runtime diagnostic tools.
• Optimize code generation and LLVM infrastructure for ARM64 and x86.
• Enhance GDB/LLDB debuggers.
• Build automated regression pipelines using Python and CI/CD tools.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Memory management

Data structures

ARM/x86 architecture

GDB/LLDB debugging

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering / Computer Science

Tools

GDB

LLDB

LLVM infrastructure

Python scripting

CI/CD tooling

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 09/29/2026

Meet the Team Networking Engineering builds the foundational software and hardware systems that connect the world. Within our Core Platform Software and Toolchains organization, our team develops, optimizes, and maintains the mission-critical compiler, debugger, and code analysis toolchains that power Cisco IOS-XE, Silicon One, and cloud-scale routing platforms. We operate at the leading edge of systems engineering-bridging modern processor architectures with LLVM/GCC optimizations and high-fidelity runtime debugging infrastructure. As active contributors to the open source community, we solve complex low-level puzzles to maximize software performance, developer velocity, and binary resilience across Cisco's global product portfolio.

Your Impact As a Compiler and Debugger Software Engineer, you will design, implement, and maintain advanced compilation and debugging toolchains that power Cisco's core networking platforms. You will develop compiler enhancements and runtime diagnostic tools in C and C++, optimize code generation and LLVM infrastructure for ARM64 and x86 architectures, and enhance GDB/LLDB debuggers. You will build automated regression pipelines using Python and CI/CD tools, integrate DWARF debug information standards, and integrate AI-assisted developer productivity tools into modern IDE environments. Success in this role means driving end-to-end toolchain excellence, evangelizing secure coding practices, and contributing impactful enhancements to open source toolchain ecosystems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Meet one of the following (completed within the past 3 years or expected to be completed within the next 12 months): -A Bachelor's degree with 0 years of work experience; OR- -An educational or workforce development program (e.g., Associate's, Apprenticeship, Boot camp, or Certification) with 1 year of work experience; OR - A High school diploma (or equivalent) with 2 years of work experience.
• Qualifying education and work experience should be in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated programming proficiency in C or C++ with a strong foundational understanding of memory management, pointer arithmetic, and data structures.
• Foundational understanding of computer architecture (ARM or x86), operating system fundamentals (processes, memory management), and the ability to read assembly language.
• Coursework, academic research, or hands-on project experience in compiler construction, code generation, LLVM infrastructure, or debugger fundamentals (GDB, LLDB, DWARF).

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with LLVM, Clang, GCC, or GDB open-source toolchains, including writing custom LLVM passes or toolchain extensions.
• Familiarity with DWARF debug format specifications, object file structures (ELF), symbol tables, and binary analysis utilities (GNU Binutils).
• Practical experience developing test automation scripts using Python and Linux shell utilities in a CI/CD environment.
• Experience configuring or cross-compiling toolchains for Embedded Linux or networking operating systems (routers/switches).
• Interest or experience integrating AI-assisted developer tools or modern IDE plugins (VSCode, Language Server Protocol / DAP) to enhance software development workflows.

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 $84,600.00 to $113,600.00 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.
• 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