Leader, Software Engineering (Data Plane, Hypershield)

The application window is expected to close on: 05/29/2026

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

Note: This is a remote U.S. based role, requiring work within the Pacific Time Zone.

Meet the Team

Join Cisco's core Hypershield Data Plane team within the Security Business Group, where we are building the high-performance packet processing foundation behind one of Cisco's most strategic next-generation security platforms. This team is responsible for delivering the data path that powers distributed security enforcement across modern infrastructure, including smart switches, DPUs, line cards, and high-throughput networking environments.

The team operates as a small, highly experienced distributed engineering group made up of senior technical leaders and domain experts who work closely across software, hardware, and system architecture boundaries. This is a highly visible role tied directly to Hypershield's product delivery, with strong executive attention and meaningful business impact as customers prepare for deployment. The environment combines Cisco scale with the agility and technical depth of the Isovalent culture-offering flexibility, technical ownership, and the opportunity to lead foundational innovation in modern network security.

Your Impact

In this role, you will lead a senior engineering team responsible for delivering core Data Plane capabilities for Cisco Hypershield, with focus on high-speed firewalling and packet processing across modern networking platforms. You will guide technical execution, drive engineering rigor across development cycles, and ensure smooth delivery across multiple concurrent workstreams. Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, the ability to lead experienced engineers, and confidence in driving architecture and execution without direct hands-on coding responsibility.

• Lead a distributed team of senior engineers and technical leaders delivering Data Plane features in sprint-based development cycles

• Manage and coordinate engineering execution across a primarily U.S.-based team, ensuring alignment during West Coast business hours (PST/PDT)

• Drive technical discussions, architecture alignment, and resolution of complex engineering roadblocks across packet processing and networking workflows

• Partner with cross-functional teams including hardware, platform software, test, and product engineering to align on milestones, schedules, and deliverables

• Oversee development quality including unit testing strategy, CI/CD readiness, defect triage, release planning, and branch management

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field with 15 years of related experience, orMaster'sdegree with 12 years of related experience, or PhD with 8 years of related experience

• 4+ years of supervisory experience leading software engineering teams

• Experience with C programming, embedded software development, or switch software development kits (SSDKs)

• Experience working with networking technologies such as VXLAN, VRF, VRRP, HSRP, SD-WAN, or related Layer 2 / Layer 3 protocols

• Experience leading software development in sprint-based delivery environments, including defect triage, release planning, and software delivery management

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with programmable networking technologies such as P4, DPUs, NPUs, or smart switch architectures

• Experience leading teams delivering networking, security, or packet processing software in distributed systems environments

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing frameworks, and software quality processes from unit testing through end-to-end validation

• Experienceparticipatingin architecture discussions across software and hardware boundaries

• Experience leading remote or globally distributed engineering teams across multiple time zones

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 $210,600.00 to $305,100.00 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:

$210,600.00 - $350,800.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$189,300.00 - $312,200.00

• 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.