Tech Lead: L2/L3 Network Forwarding

Cisco Systems, Inc; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 214,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc.’s Datacenter Switching team is looking for a Tech Lead to design and deliver software for the Nexus 9000 series, enabling high‑density, low‑latency data center networking for AI and cloud workloads. You will partner with design and product management, develop technical designs, and guide teams through secure coding practices and best‑in‑class software delivery.

This role combines architecture leadership with hands‑on development, mentoring, and driving initiatives across

Qualifications

• Proficiency in C/C++ programming within a Linux environment.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the networking domain.
• Experience with L2/L3 forwarding concepts, with familiarity in Datapath architecture within ASICs.
• Proven experience in feature development for network switches and routers.

Responsibilities

• Recognized as an expert within Cisco.
• Proactively identifies and participates in the resolution of complex problems that impact the direction of the business.
• Develops and delivers innovative strategies that benefit customers and/or clients.
• Leads major business projects which impact a region or entire function.
• Contributes to the development of annual organizational objectives/priorities.
• Builds and maintains long-term relationships with key customers to ensure products and services reflect the needs and direction of the business.
• Translates and influences the regional or functional strategic vision into a technical vision with clear engineering priorities, ensuring understanding and alignment across teams.
• May lead projects that span the business segment, function or region.
• May drive large features from technical design through completion.
• Leads the development and implementation of software development lifecycle and agile engineering strategies across applicable teams in anticipation of the changing software development environment.
• Influences technical direction and deliverables across the function.
• Recognizes and makes trade-offs with respect to the whole system and defines new product categories.
• Leads design choices within the context of all Cisco offerings.
• Drives product success through creating metrics and influencing product adoption and direction.
• Writes and sets the standard for functional clean code.
• Develops and drives utilization and support for processes for issue identification and sustainable response, proactive tooling, and continuous improvement for production systems.
• Industry or thought leader on scale, performance, or design patterns.
• May represent or present team outputs at external events.
• Communicates product or program priorities, deadlines, and shifts in requirements in the context of engineering priorities and user needs.
• Negotiates and drives trade-offs in timing, design, and specifications to meet the needs of users and cross-functional partners.
• Leads, mentors, and influences senior engineers.
• Improves knowledge sharing processes.

Job description

Cisco Systems, Inc.’s Datacenter Switching team is looking for a Tech Lead to design and deliver software for the Nexus 9000 series, enabling high‑density, low‑latency data center networking for AI and cloud workloads. You will partner with design and product management, develop technical designs, and guide teams through secure coding practices and best‑in‑class software delivery.

This role combines architecture leadership with hands‑on development, mentoring, and driving initiatives across