The Common Hardware Group (CHG) at Cisco is seeking skilled software engineers to join our Diagnostic/BSP team, responsible for ensuring the reliability and performance of our world-class hardware. Our team develops software for Cisco’s network switches and routers, which feature advanced application awareness to build a flexible and agile network infrastructure. These capabilities support multi-layered responses to the diverse workload demands of AI and ML. This is a unique opportunity to grow your technical skill set and gain visibility and recognition across cross-functional teams within Cisco. We value motivated individuals who enjoy solving complex challenges and thrive in a collaborative, innovative environment.
Your Impact• Design, and develop, BSP, and Diagnostics for Cisco Core and Edge routing products.
• Design, develop, and test kernel and user space device drivers for FPGA and networking peripherals.
• Develop and execute software test plans.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to debug prototypes and validate software.
Minimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 4+ years experience, or Master’s degree with 2+ years experience.
Proficient in C, C++, and Python programming.
Strong hardware and device driver development background, including experience with Linux hardware bring-up.
Demonstrated experience in hardware and device driver development, including Linux hardware bring-up, multi-threading, event handling, and state machine implementation.
Skilled in developing, debugging, and validating embedded systems and device drivers for protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, and/or GPIO.
Proficient in kernel debugging tools such as GDB and KGDB.
Experience developing software from concept through delivery for large-scale, high-bandwidth systems.
Ability to troubleshoot software defects from kernel modules to applications.
Experience with collaborative system design, specification writing, and requirements review.
Commitment to quality, mentoring, and continuous learning in networking, optics, and embedded systems.
Experience with AI/ML.
Knowledge of Layer 2/3 network protocols.
Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills.
Experience with network processors and optical networking.
Familiarity with secure-boot, open-source tools, CMIS, and SFF standards (SFP, QSFP).
Strong communication skills and knowledge of software quality processes.
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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 4+ years experience, or Master's degree with 2+ years experience
- Proficient in C
- Proficient in C++
- Proficient in Python
- Strong hardware and device driver development background including Linux hardware bring-up
- Experience designing, developing, and testing kernel and user-space device drivers for FPGA and networking peripherals
- Experience with multi-threading, event handling, and state machine implementation
- Experience with protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, and GPIO
- Develop and execute software test plans and collaborate with cross-functional teams to debug and validate prototypes
- Familiarity with kernel debugging tools such as GDB and KGDB
- Experience developing software for large-scale, high-bandwidth systems
- Troubleshoot software defects from kernel modules to applications
- Experience with collaborative system design, specification writing, and requirements review
- Experience or knowledge in AI/ML and Layer 2/3 network protocols
- Experience with network processors, optical networking, secure-boot, CMIS, and SFF standards (SFP, QSFP)
- Strong troubleshooting, debugging, communication skills, and knowledge of software quality processes
Cisco Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cisco and has not been reviewed or approved by Cisco.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as robust with multiple plan options and access to onsite/virtual LifeConnections Health Centers on major campuses. Company materials also highlight mental-health resources and comprehensive preventive care, supporting strong core medical benefits.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time away includes company‑wide recharge days, a paid birthday, a year‑end shutdown, and paid Critical Time Off for emergencies. Paid volunteer days further expand opportunities to step away and recharge.
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Parental & Family Support — Policies include a global minimum for paid parental leave for primary caregivers, caregiving concierge services, and on‑site children’s learning centers in select locations. In the U.S., family‑building support is consolidated under Carrot with a defined lifetime maximum, indicating structured assistance across fertility, preservation, adoption, and surrogacy.
Cisco Insights
What We Do
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) enables people to make powerful connections--whether in business, education, philanthropy, or creativity. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible--providing easy access to information anywhere, at any time. Cisco was founded in 1984 by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Since the company's inception, Cisco engineers have been leaders in the development of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies. Today, with more than 71,000 employees worldwide, this tradition of innovation continues with industry-leading products and solutions in the company's core development areas of routing and switching, as well as in advanced technologies such as home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology. In addition to its products, Cisco provides a broad range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. Cisco sells its products and services, both directly through its own sales force as well as through its channel partners, to large enterprises, commercial businesses, service providers, and consumers.
