Software Engineer :: C/C++, Python scripting, L2/L3 Networking (5-9 Years)
Cisco is hiring a Software Engineer :: C/C++, Python scripting, L2/L3 Networking (5-9 Years) in Bengaluru, India. Level rates it ; you can apply on Cisco.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this software engineer role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include OpenAI, C and Python.
- Level classifies it as a senior role.
- Level lists 1,400+ other open roles at Cisco.
AI in this role
Software engineer to design and develop control plane and data plane software for Cisco networking platforms using C and C++.
Meet the Team
Looking forward to getting an exciting start to your career? Catalyst Engineering IOS XE Platform Independent team, designs and develops high-performance system software for various Cisco Platforms which includes Enterprise Switching & Routers, Service Provider Routing Platforms. This is one of the team where we are leading the Enterprise Industry with several innovations; and we are in an exciting phase in the rapidly evolving market. The opportunities here are boundless, and we are sure you will add a character to the dynamism of this team!
Your impact
In your role as a Software Engineer, you will develop and integrate products that are deployed by some of the leading Enterprises in the world. You will work with a BU-wide vibrant technical community, learning from experts and translating this learning into exciting opportunities for personal growth. You will work on IOS XE OS that forms a crucial backbone of many Enterprise devices. You will learn about groundbreaking technologies and platforms while developing software for these equipment’s. Experience the exhilaration of taking a product through development and integration.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and test robust, scalable software components and features that meet rigorous technical standards.
- Design and development of control plane and data plane software for Cisco IOSXE Switching, Routing, Wireless, IIOT products.
- Analyse requirements and problem statements to come with right software designs and solutions. To be able to write details Design documents and Functional Specifications.
- Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues to ensure optimal system stability,
- undefined
- Drive the continuous improvement of development lifecycles, engineering processes, and industry best practices.
- To be able to innovate and come up with new ideas that can lead to filing patents and creating IP value for the company
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelors + 5 years of related experience, or Masters + 3 years of related experience, or PhD + 0 years of related experience.
- Prior work experience with control plane software or data plane software, data structures, Wireless experience (802.11ac/ax/be), Linux/RTOS/Networking OS internals
- Proficient in writing quality code in C/C++.
- Experience in developing software/firmware for networking products.
- Excellent knowledge of software architecture and system design.
- Experience using Traffic generators/Analyzers such as IXIA/Sniffer is a plus.
- Built an agentic network-diagnostics assistant using Python, OpenAI APIs, RAG, and MCP-based tools to analyse device logs, retrieve relevant technical documentation, and generate evidence-backed troubleshooting recommendations.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Hands-on experience with networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF) and complex systems architecture.
- Good hands-on implementation experience with one or more of the following: High Availability, IPC, Memory management, Distributed communications Infrastructure, Serviceability, Containers, Virtualization
- Proven ability to rapidly acquire new technical skills and adapt to evolving business requirements.
- Cisco Networking certificates such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIE 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.
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.
How we rate this
Software Engineer :: C/C++, Python scripting, L2/L3 Networking (5-9 Years) at Cisco rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in software engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- Typical software engineer job
- $168k
This posting doesn't list pay. Use the typical software engineer figure when pay comes up. See software engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- How would you design a retrieval step so the model answers from real data instead of guessing?
- Tell me about a project where networking was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where control plane was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where data plane was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where embedded systems was part of your work. What did you do?
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: RAG, Networking, Control Plane, Data Plane, and Embedded Systems. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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