Software Engineer II (Full Time) - United States

Cisco; Boxborough (MA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco is shaping cloud-based and networking solutions by collaborating with engineers across teams on challenging projects in cloud, networking, and security. You’ll tackle complex problems, learn across software and infrastructure, and grow technical expertise in a fast-paced environment.

Foundational networking knowledge, cloud platform experience (AWS/GCP), and scripting skills (Python/Go) are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of networking concepts, including TCP/IP, routing, and network troubleshooting.
• Experience with AWS and a basic understanding of cloud infrastructure.
• Basic software development or scripting skills, preferably with Python; Go experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Build and support cloud-based and networking solutions in a collaborative environment.
• Work across networking, cloud infrastructure, and systems technologies with engineers.
• Troubleshoot and learn across software and infrastructure to solve complex challenges.

Skills

Networking fundamentals

AWS basics

Python scripting

Linux/Unix

Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP)

Education

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Educational/workforce program

High school diploma

Tools

Python

Go

KVM

OpenStack

Docker

AWS

GCP

Job description

Meet the Team

Join a vibrant community of passionate professionals from around the world, working together across Engineering, IT, Supply Chain, Customer Experience, Security & Trust, and more. Our team brings diverse perspectives, skills, and backgrounds together with a shared commitment to innovation and making technology accessible for everyone. You’ll collaborate with dedicated colleagues on exciting projects spanning cloud, networking, mobile, desktop, and security. No matter your role, you’ll have opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact by building solutions that help people connect, learn, and thrive.

Your Impact

As a member of our engineering team, you’ll help build and support cloud-based and networking solutions in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. You’ll work across networking, cloud infrastructure, and systems technologies while partnering with engineers across functions to solve complex technical challenges. We’re looking for someone who enjoys learning, troubleshooting, and working across both software and infrastructure. This is an opportunity to grow your technical expertise while contributing to solutions that enable reliable, scalable, and secure connectivity.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s degree with 0 years of work experience; or
• A Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of work experience; or
• An educational or workforce development program (e.g., Associate’s, Apprenticeship, Boot camp, or Certification) with 3 years of work experience; or
• A High school diploma (or equivalent) with 4 years of work experience.

Foundational knowledge of networking concepts, including TCP/IP, routing, and network troubleshooting. Experience with AWS and a basic understanding of cloud infrastructure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic software development or scripting skills, preferably with Python; Go experience is a plus
• Systems-level understanding of Linux/Unix environments
• Strong problem-solving, troubleshooting, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP) or on-premises virtualization technologies (KVM, OpenStack)
• Experience with containerization/orchestration platforms, cloud networking, or distributed systems

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: 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 of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to 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: $125,700.00 - $203,100.00
• Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $111,700.00 - $180,800.00
• 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.

Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.