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
- Architect and develop BIOS, BSP, and diagnostics for Cisco's Core and Edge routing products.
- Design, develop, and test device drivers for FPGA and high-speed networking peripherals.
- Develop and execute software test plans.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to debug prototypes and validate software.
- Innovate and drive unique software, hardware, and technology solutions with a global impact on Cisco's product portfolio.
- Utilize deep technical expertise for complex consultations and act as an expert both internally and externally.
- Shape technology and industry trends to enable a competitive advantage and ensure long-term business impact.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 14+ years experience, or Master’s degree with 12+ years experience.
- Current experience in C, C++, and Python programming for embedded systems.
- Prior experience in hardware and device driver development, including Linux hardware bring-up, multi-threading, event handling, and state machine implementation.
- Prior experience with Sonic, ONIE, BMC, IPMI, and/or Redfish technologies.
- Prior experience developing, debugging, and validating embedded systems using protocols such as I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, GPIO.
- Prior experience in kernel debugging tools such as GDB and KGDB.
- Experience leading board bring-up, validation, and debugging of embedded systems.
- Ability to develop software from concept through delivery for large-scale, high-bandwidth systems.
- Prior experience with troubleshooting skills for software defects from kernel modules to applications.
- Prior experience in collaborative system design, specification writing, and requirements review.
- AI/ML experience and knowledge of Layer 2/3 network protocols, network processors, optical networking, secure-boot, open-source tools, CMIS, and SFF standards (SFP, QSFP).
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 degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 14+ years of experience
- Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 12+ years of experience
- Current experience programming in C, C++, and Python for embedded systems
- Experience with hardware and device driver development
- Experience with Linux hardware bring-up, multithreading, event handling, and state machine implementation
- Experience with Sonic, ONIE, BMC, IPMI, and/or Redfish
- Experience developing, debugging, and validating embedded systems using I2C, SPI, UART, PCIe, and GPIO
- Experience with kernel debugging tools such as GDB and KGDB
- Experience leading board bring-up, validation, and embedded-system debugging
- Ability to develop software from concept through delivery for large-scale, high-bandwidth systems
- Experience troubleshooting software defects from kernel modules through applications
- Experience with collaborative system design, specification writing, and requirements review
- AI/ML experience and knowledge of Layer 2/3 network protocols, network processors, optical networking, secure boot, open-source tools, CMIS, and SFF standards
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.
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