Meet the Team
The Cisco Optical Network Controller (CONC) team leads the industry in optical SDN controller solutions, powering mission-critical tier-1 service provider networks globally. We develop cloud-native, distributed microservices capable of high-throughput network control and state synchronization. Operating without a separate test organization, our Senior Engineers drive both architectural excellence in Java microservices and automated validation frameworks in Python.
Your Impact
• Technical Design & Architecture: Lead the design and implementation of complex, resilient Java microservices for topology discovery, service provisioning, circuit path computation, and lifecycle management.
• Dev-Test Architecture & Strategy: Architect scalable, reusable Python test automation frameworks; mentor engineers on writing robust end-to-end tests for distributed edge cases (e.g., node failover, high availability, scale).
• Performance & Scale Optimization: Profile, troubleshoot, and optimize microservice performance, concurrency, and memory footprint in containerized Kubernetes clusters.
• Code Quality & Mentorship: Drive rigorous code reviews, test-driven development (TDD), automated regression guardrails, and technical onboarding for junior engineers.
• Release & Customer Quality: Partner with Product Leads and Architects to ensure carrier-grade reliability and rapid turnaround on critical customer escalations.
Minimum Qualification
• Education & Experience: Bachelor's or Master's in CS/ECE/EE with 6 to 9+ years of progressive experience designing and developing distributed enterprise or networking software.
• Advanced Java Mastery: Deep expertise in Java (Spring Boot / Micronaut), concurrency/multithreading, distributed data caching, transactional consistency, and REST/gRPC API design.
• Python Test Engineering Expertise: Extensive experience designing modular, automated Python test frameworks (PyTest, Robot Framework, mock servers) to simulate large-scale network topologies and microservice interlocks.
• Cloud-Native & Distributed Systems: Strong experience with Kubernetes, Docker, Kafka, distributed state management, and Linux systems internals.
Preferred Qualification
• Deep domain experience in Optical Networking (ROADM, Transponders, OTN, DWDM), L0-L3 network topologies, or PCE/Path Computation algorithms.
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.
Disclaimer
To ensure that we hire the best talent in the right way, we follow a strict hiring process and recently, Cisco has been made aware of fraudulent recruiters claiming to be from the company. Please be advised that any communication from Cisco about careers will:
- be in direct response to an application you have submitted through the company career site
- begin with screening or an interview
- originate from a Cisco email address, and
- be conducted across email, phone, or WebEx
Cisco will never make a job offer without conducting an interview process or ask you for money in any way. If you have been requested to apply for a role or have received an offer from a site other than https://careers.cisco.com or cisco.wd5.myworkday.com, do not provide any personal identifying information, including your Aadhaar or other personal identifying number, birth certificate, banking information, driver's license, or passport.
If you are the target of a recruiting scam, consider filing a report with your local law enforcement authorities. Cisco bears no responsibility, and cannot be held liable, for any claims, damages, expenses, or other inconvenience resulting from or in any way connected to recruiting scams.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electronics and Communication Engineering, or Electrical Engineering
- 6 to 9+ years of progressive experience designing and developing distributed enterprise or networking software
- Deep expertise in Java, including Spring Boot or Micronaut
- Experience with concurrency and multithreading
- Experience with distributed data caching and transactional consistency
- Experience designing REST or gRPC APIs
- Extensive experience designing modular automated Python test frameworks
- Experience with PyTest, Robot Framework, and mock servers
- Strong experience with Kubernetes and Docker
- Strong experience with Kafka, distributed state management, and Linux systems internals
- Deep experience in optical networking, ROADM, transponders, OTN, DWDM, L0-L3 network topologies, or PCE/path computation algorithms
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 broad, with medical options including PPOs, high-deductible plans, and regional HMOs. Feedback suggests robust wellness and mental-health resources, with some locations offering on-site support and second medical opinions.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is highlighted through paid holidays, paid time off, and additional recharge days such as “Days for Me,” with generous volunteer time also mentioned. Feedback suggests these programs help support rest, volunteering, and critical life events.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support appears extensive, including paid child-bonding leave, family medical leave, and caregiving resources. Observations also point to family-planning assistance and adoption or surrogacy support in some regions.
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.
