Software Engineer (Python, networking, system design | 7+ years)

Cisco; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a Senior Hardware Validation Engineer to join the Silicon One initiative. You will help validate high-performance silicon software and hardware validation frameworks across hardware, simulation, and CI/CD environments.

You will apply Python/test-automation, lead end-to-end tests, and collaborate with silicon, SDK, and architecture teams to ensure reliable line-rate silicon and early defect detection.

Qualifications

• 7–12 years of experience in software development.
• Strong Python and test automation (pytest, CI).
• Networking fundamentals: L2/L3, ACLs, QoS/meters, tunnels, multicast, and packet forwarding concepts.
• System design and architecture experience with scalable software components.
• Comfort working close to hardware: lab boards, SerDes, port bring-up, long-running HW regressions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and enhance the core hardware validation framework for Cisco Silicon One ASICs.
• Design and automate end-to-end validation tests across hardware, simulation, and CI/CD environments.
• Build scalable, reliable test frameworks using Python/pytest.
• Validate next-generation networking features including packet processing, QoS, ACLs, warm boot, and multi-device topologies.
• Collaborate with silicon, SDK, and architecture teams to ensure coverage and early defect detection.
• Own hardware smoke and regression testing to maintain quality across releases.
• Debug complex hardware and software issues and drive root-cause analysis.

Skills

Python

Test automation

Networking fundamentals

System design

Hardware bring-up

CI/CD

pytest

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Meet the team

The Cisco Silicon One Bangalore team is at the heart of Cisco’s next-generation networking innovation, developing the software, ASICs, and validation systems that power the industry’s most advanced networking silicon. The team is building a unified, programmable silicon architecture that serves as the foundation for Cisco’s future routing, switching, and AI/ML network infrastructure. Operating with the agility of a startup within Cisco’s global ecosystem, the team designs, validates, and delivers high-performance, multi-terabit silicon solutions that enable faster, more scalable, power-efficient, and secure networks for service providers and web-scale customers worldwide.

Your Impact

• Develop and enhance the core hardware validation framework for Cisco Silicon One ASICs.
• Design and automate end-to-end validation tests across hardware, simulation, and CI/CD environments.
• Build scalable, reliable test frameworks using modern software design principles and Python/pytest.
• Validate next-generation networking features including packet processing, QoS, ACLs, warm boot, and multi-device topologies.
• Collaborate with silicon, SDK, and architecture teams to ensure comprehensive test coverage and early defect detection.
• Own hardware smoke and regression testing to maintain high product quality across releases.
• Debug complex hardware and software issues, driving root cause analysis and resolution.
• Support bring-up and validation of new Silicon One ASICs and networking platforms.

Minimum Qualification

• Strong Python and test-automation skills (pytest, CI, large test matrices)
• 7-12 years of experience in Software Development
• Understands networking fundamentals — L2/L3, ACLs, QoS/meters, tunnels, multicast, and packet forwarding concepts
• System design expertise — ability to architect large, evolving validation platforms with clear boundaries, interfaces, and ownership
• Proficiency in system design patterns — Demonstrated expertise in system design, software architecture, and design patterns, with the ability to evaluate design trade-offs and develop scalable, modular, and reusable software components.
• Comfort working close to hardware — lab boards, SerDes, port bring-up, and long-running HW regressions
• Experience with complex systems — build/test pipelines, distributed testing, or large-scale validation frameworks
• A mindset for quality and ownership — you care that silicon actually works at line rate, not just that code compiles

Preferred Qualification

• Experience with Cisco Silicon One SDK, NPL, SAI, traffic generators (TGEN), or carrier/web-scale networking platforms