Principal Software Engineer, Linux Kernel - Isovalent
Isovalent, now part of Cisco, is the company founded by the creators of Cilium and eBPF. Cisco Isovalent builds open-source software and enterprise solutions solving networking, security, and observability needs for modern cloud native infrastructure. The flagship technology, Cilium, is the choice of numerous, industry-leading, global organizations.
We believe in fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that every employee contributes to our success, and we are committed to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission to deliver exceptional products and services.
About this role:
Cisco Isovalent is seeking a skilled and experienced Software Engineer with long-term experience and upstream reputation in the Linux kernel community to develop forward looking features and functionality related to BPF, networking and/or security in the Linux kernel as well as bringing the latter into Cilium and/or Tetragon. You will work with a highly collaborative and skilled team to build solutions that advance the next generation of networking and security in Kubernetes and cloud native environments.
What you’ll do:
Lead design and development of new Linux kernel functionality in the areas of BPF, the networking stack and/or the security subsystem and bring the new functionality into Cilium/Tetragon.
Collaborate in a small technical team working on forward-looking features, but also actively collaborate in the upstream Linux kernel community.
Engage with the team across engineering, product, and customers to align on future technical direction with business needs.
Possibility to speak at technical conferences to present and discuss your work (e.g., KubeCon, Linux Plumbers, LSF/MM/BPF).
Contribute to and uphold engineering best practices, code quality, and operational excellence.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelors Computer Science degree, or related fields
2+ years of upstream Linux kernel track record
5+ years of experience in C
A public track record of open-source code commits is a must
Preferred Qualifications:
Expert knowledge about Linux systems design, performance, security and/or networking, Linux kernel
5+ years of upstream Linux kernel track record
5+ years of experience in C, BPF as well as Go
Desire to write high quality and efficient code
Highly self-driven working individual
Experience designing and implementing APIs
Experience from working with production systems at scale, networking background is always a plus
Experience with Kubernetes, Cloud Native workloads and/or distributed systems
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 Computer Science or a related field
- At least 2 years of upstream Linux kernel contribution experience
- At least 5 years of experience programming in C
- Public track record of open-source code commits
- Expert knowledge of Linux systems design, performance, security, networking, or the Linux kernel
- At least 5 years of upstream Linux kernel contribution experience
- At least 5 years of experience with C, BPF, and Go
- Experience designing and implementing APIs
- Experience with production systems at scale
- Networking experience
- Experience with Kubernetes, cloud-native workloads, or distributed systems
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.
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