Software Engineering Technical Leader

The application window is expected to close on: 06/01/2026

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

We are looking for candidates local to RTP as this is a hybrid role requiring at least 3 days per week onsite in the office

Meet the Team

The Customer Validation Testing (CVT) team is at the forefront of developing solutions that power the largest networks in the world. Engineers on this team will collaborate with dedicated, dynamic, hardworking team members to work on the qualification and automation of influential technologies, XR platforms, and solutions for deployment in high-end Cisco Web and Service Provider customers, impacting an endless number of users worldwide. The team is comprised of talented engineers with diverse experience levels, ranging from 3 to over 20 years, bringing significant expertise to the table. With a global presence, the team operates from centers in the US, Canada, and India.

Your Impact

As a Solution Qualification/Automation Technical Leader, you will be responsible for designing, automating, configuring, and qualifying customer use cases based on IOS-XR for platforms such as ASR9K, NCS5500, and 8000. This role includes bringing up customer solutions in cisco lab, developing innovative test frameworks and web-based GUIs that leverage analytics and machine learning, as well as driving automated and manual test cases on validating the solution.

You will collaborate globally with internal development teams and account management teams to ensure alignment and understanding of the work. You will also...

Collaborate with internal teams to understand customer use cases and design the topology to replicate their solutions

• Reproduce customer environments in internal labs using hardware, traffic generators, and open-source tools to validate solutions

• Accurately replicate network protocols, using tools and technologies to mimic real-world scenarios for testing and validation purposes

• Design and develop innovative test frameworks and tools to support the test execution environment plans

• Monitor and optimize performance of the customer's network environment

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors in STEM with 8+ years of relevant experience

• Experience in developing automation tools, test frameworks, and network validation scripts using Python

• Hands-on experience with Layer 2/Layer 3 networking protocols such as BGP, OSPF, ISIS, MPLS, Segment Routing, and Multicast technologies

• Experience in network automation (e.g., using pyATS or similar), protocol testing, and software quality assurance

• Experience reproducing customer environments, perform root cause analysis, and delivering solutions for large-scale service providers or enterprise deployments

• Experience in configuring, validating, and troubleshooting routing platforms (e.g., Nexus switches), with experience in hardware-based forwarding

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands on experience with GIT, Jira, Jenkins and CI/CD pipeline tools

• Industry certification such as CCIE/CCNP/Cisco DevNet will be a plus

• Experience with network monitoring tools like Grafana, telegraf and InfluxDB and traffic generators like Ixia and Spirent

• Experience with network programmability - gNMI, gRPC, NETCONF, YANG , REST API, RPC

• Knowledge of Linux/OS such as CentOS, Redhat, Ubuntu and expertise on Bash/Unix Shell Scripting

• Knowledge of virtualization and containerization technologies - KVM, VMware, Docker, and Kubernetes

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

• Understanding and hands on Cisco IOS/IOS-XR platforms

• Experience with AI and ML is a plus

• Experience in configuring, validating, and troubleshooting routing platforms (e.g., Cisco ASR, NCS, 8000, Nexus, Catalyst or non-Cisco router/switch), with experience in hardware-based forwarding

#WeAreCisco

#WeAreCisco where every individual brings their unique skills and perspectives together to pursue our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.

Our passion is connection-we celebrate our employees' diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best.

We understand our outstanding opportunity to bring communities together and at the heart of that is our people. One-third of Cisconians collaborate in our 30 employee resource organizations, called Inclusive Communities, to connect, foster belonging, learn to be informed allies, and make a difference. Dedicated paid time off to volunteer-80 hours each year-allows us to give back to causes we are passionate about, and nearly 86% do!

Our purpose, driven by our people, is what makes us the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Helping our customers reimagine their applications, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals is what we do best. We ensure that every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive future for all. Take your next step and be you, with us!

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 $149,100.00 to $218,900.00 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.

Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.