Software Engineer Technical Leader – Network Data Plane – Hypershield

Cisco is revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era. As a Software Engineer Technical Leader, you will design and optimize data plane software for Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches while collaborating with various engineering teams to tackle complex networking challenges.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and optimize high-performance data plane software using modern C/C++ on Linux-based systems
• Develop networking software for DPU-based Smart Switch platforms, enabling scalable packet processing and advanced security capabilities
• Troubleshoot complex software defects, networking issues, and customer-reported problems while improving performance, scalability, and reliability
• Lead technical design discussions, participate in architecture and code reviews, and provide technical mentorship across the engineering organization
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to deliver innovative networking and security capabilities for Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field and 12+ years of related experience, or Master's degree with 10+ years, or PhD with 7+ years of related experience
• 10+ years of professional software development experience using C or C++ in Linux environments
• Experience developing networking or data plane software with strong knowledge of Layer 2, Layer 3, and common networking protocols
• Experience developing or optimizing high-performance packet processing applications using DPDK, networking stacks, or similar technologies
• Experience designing, implementing, debugging, reviewing, and delivering production-quality systems software
• Experience developing software for Data Processing Units (DPUs), SmartNICs, network processors, or networking appliances
• Experience with P4 or other programmable data plane technologies
• Experience contributing to networking architecture, systems software design, or large-scale distributed networking solutions
• Experience working across cross-functional or geographically distributed engineering teams