Software Developer – Networking Protocols and Programmability

The application window is expected to close on: 03/10/2026Job 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.

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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 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 employe