Software Developer – Networking Protocols and Programmability

The application window is expected to close on: 03/10/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received. Meet the Team The multicast control plane software development team in the DSE organization is excited to present this opportunity. This diverse and fast-paced group owns the multicast protocols stack for the NX-OS and ACI products, which are the foundation for the industry leading technologies such as IP Fabric for Media (IPFM) and Tenant Routed Multicast (TRM) for VXLAN/EVPN fabrics. Current team members include experts who lead and contribute to forums as such IETF and Cisco’s innovation council. Technical curiosity, collaboration, and growth-mindset are key characteristics of the team’s culture. Knowledge sharing, perseverance, and can-do’ness are pervasive, and embraced by all. Your Impact Develop modular and optimized software that deliver accurate and scalable programmability automation and telemetry/observability for the multicast control plane. Apply your design and development methodologies to continuously improve software quality for readability and maintainability. Stretch your analytical skills to solve problems with complex state machines and protocol interactions. Hold the quality bar high – be exhaustive in your unit-testing, bring creativity where needed. Expand your horizons on stretch projects, rub shoulders with the subject matter experts, learn about the protocols and its use-cases, and unleash your growth mindset! Be an AI adoption champion to deliver with speed and quality, show the team how it is done. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's in a STEM field with 5 years of experience, or a Master's with 3 years Experience in C/C++ programming language Experience in Linux/Unix or system software Experience/coursework in advanced data structures and algorithms, operating systems Preferred Qualifications Linux background, multi-threaded programming and memory debugging experience. Knowledge in networking protocols. Experience in scalability, performance analysis, and optimization. Experience in Bash, Python or Perl scripting. “Cisco may use AI Tools to review candidate-provided details—such as skills, experience, location, and education—to determine how closely candidates match job criteria. AI Tools are intended to guide and support the recruitment team in identifying and prioritizing candidates but are not used in isolation or without human judgment. For more information about Cisco’s use of AI please see the Job Candidate Privacy Statement found here.” 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 $113,500.00 to $161,400.00 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 n ... (truncated, view full listing at source)