Software Engineer Technical Leader – Network Data Plane – Hypershield

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 214,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Software Engineer Technical Leader within the Security Innovation team to design and optimize data plane software for Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches.

You will write high-performance C/C++ on Linux, troubleshoot complex networking problems, and lead architectural discussions across engineering groups. The role requires deep experience in networking, DPDK-based packet processing, and production-quality systems software, collaborating with hardware and security

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field with 12+ years of experience, or Master's with 10+ years, or PhD with 7+ years.
• 10+ years of professional software development experience in C/C++ on Linux.
• Experience in networking or data plane software with Layer 2/3 knowledge.
• Experience with high-performance packet processing using DPDK or similar tech.
• Design, implement, debug, and deliver production-quality systems software.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and optimize high-performance data plane software for Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches.
• Write production-quality code and troubleshoot complex networking issues.
• Lead technical design discussions and mentor engineers across teams.
• Collaborate with software, hardware, and security teams to deliver secure networking capabilities.

Skills

C/C++

Linux

Networking

DPDK

Security software

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Linux

DPDK

Networking stacks

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 11/09/2026.

Meet the Team

The Security Innovation team within Cisco's Security Business Group is building the next generation of networking and security platforms that protect applications, devices, and data across modern data centers and cloud environments. As part of the team developing Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches, you'll help build high-performance data plane software that leverages Data Processing Units (DPUs) to deliver advanced networking, packet processing, and security capabilities. This is an exciting opportunity to join the team as Cisco prepares to launch its next-generation Smart Switch platform. Working at the intersection of networking, systems programming, and security, you'll help shape a flagship Cisco innovation while collaborating with engineers solving some of the industry’s most complex networking challenges. If you're passionate about building high-performance networking software and influencing the future of secure infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.

Your Impact

As a Software Engineer Technical Leader, you'll play a key role in designing, developing, and optimizing the data plane software powering Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches. This is a highly technical, hands-on individual contributor role where you'll spend the majority of your time writing production-quality code, solving complex networking problems, and influencing technical direction through engineering leadership. You'll work across the full software development lifecycle—from technical design and implementation to debugging, performance optimization, code reviews, and customer issue resolution—while partnering closely with software, hardware, and security engineering teams.

In this role, you will:

• Design, develop, and optimize high-performance data plane software using modern C/C++ on Linux-based systems.
• Develop networking software for DPU-based Smart Switch platforms, enabling scalable packet processing and advanced security capabilities.
• Troubleshoot complex software defects, networking issues, and customer-reported problems while improving performance, scalability, and reliability.
• Lead technical design discussions, participate in architecture and code reviews, and provide technical mentorship across the engineering organization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to deliver innovative networking and security capabilities for Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field and 12+ years of related experience, or Master's degree with 10+ years, or PhD with 7+ years of related experience.
• 10+ years of professional software development experience using C or C++ in Linux environments.
• Experience developing networking or data plane software with strong knowledge of Layer 2, Layer 3, and common networking protocols.
• Experience developing or optimizing high-performance packet processing applications using DPDK, networking stacks, or similar technologies.
• Experience designing, implementing, debugging, reviewing, and delivering production-quality systems software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing software for Data Processing Units (DPUs), SmartNICs, network processors, or networking appliances.
• Experience with P4 or other programmable data plane technologies.
• Experience contributing to networking architecture, systems software design, or large-scale distributed networking solutions.
• Experience working across cross-functional or geographically distributed engineering teams.

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 $214,100.00 to $309,800.00 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. employee benefits and paid time away

• 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.

Applicable full salary ranges by state

• New York City Metro Area: $214,100.00 - $356,300.00
• Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $192,400.00 - $317,200.00
• * 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.

Additional Company Culture

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.