Software Engineering Technical Leader- Datapath

The application window is expected to close on: 07/01/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Role is hybrid and located in San Jose, CA, must be able to come into the Cisco office 3-4 days a weekMeet the Team

The Cisco Distributed System Engineering (DSE) team develops the software platforms that power Cisco’s core and edge routing systems used in some of the world’s largest networks. The team focuses on building scalable distributed systems that support the increasing demands of AI/ML workloads and global internet traffic. Engineers collaborate closely with silicon, hardware, and open-source communities to deliver end‑to‑end networking solutions. The group is made up of highly collaborative engineers working across systems, software, and hardware domains in a fast‑paced environment. It’s an exciting opportunity to work on next‑generation routing platforms while contributing to innovations shaping the future of high‑performance networking.

Your Impact

Architect, design, and develop platform software supporting network processing units (NPU), fabric, and SerDes components for Cisco core and edge routing platforms. Integrate with the Cisco Silicon One SDK to enable next‑generation routing capabilities. Develop and execute software test plans to validate functionality and performance of new networking platforms. Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to debug hardware prototypes and resolve complex system issues. Lead technical discussions and guide New Product Introduction (NPI) development from concept through first customer shipment (FCS) to ensure successful platform delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with 12+ years of experience, or a Master’s degree with 10+ years of experience
• 10+ years of programming experience using C, C++, and Python
• Experience with hardware bring‑up, device driver development, and Linux-based systems
• Experience with multi-threading, event handling, and state machine design
• Experience using kernel debugging tools such as GDB or KGDB to troubleshoot software from kernel modules to applications
• Experience working with NPU ASIC bring up, SDK and Datapath bring up

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AI/ML technologies or workloads in networking environments
• Knowledge of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking protocols
• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills in complex distributed systems
• Experience working with network processors, optical networking, or high-performance networking platforms
• Experience leading New Platform Introduction (NPI) programs in networking or hardware-adjacent domains
• Experience with Silicon One SDK, Broadcom SDK is a plus

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. 

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:The starting salary range posted for this position is $183,800.00 to $263,600.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco’s plan eligibility rules, which include medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks.  Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco’s policies:

• 10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus 1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees

• 1 paid day off for employee’s birthday, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and 4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next

• Additional paid time away may be requested to deal with critical or emergency issues for family members

• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$183,800.00 - $303,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$163,600.00 - $269,800.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.