Software Engineer | Routing protocol and infra charter software development | 8-12 years

Meet the Team

The DSE Platform Independent Common (PI-Common) group develops high-performance, platform-independent system software that runs across Cisco’s flagship routers and switches. We design and deliver core routing protocols and infrastructure components that power Cisco’s Mass Scale Infrastructure, Cloud Networking, and Network Experience portfolios.

Our team owns the architecture, implementation, and lifecycle of key control-plane technologies including IGP routing protocols (OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, RIP), BGP-LS, First Hop Redundancy Protocols (HSRP/VRRP/GLBP), and routing infrastructure components such as route-policy frameworks, prefix handling, filtering, and control-plane scalability mechanisms.

These components form the foundation of networking deployments across enterprise, service provider, cloud, and AI infrastructure environments — where scale, resiliency, security, programmability, and operational debuggability are critical.

Your Impact

As a Software Engineer in PI-Common, you will design, build, and sustain critical routing protocol and infrastructure components used across Cisco platforms. Your work will directly impact production networks operating at massive scale across enterprise, service provider, cloud, and AI infrastructure environments. Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and implementing enhancements to IGP protocols (OSPF, IS-IS, EIGRP, RIP), BGP-LS, and FHRP technologies.
• Developing and evolving routing infrastructure components such as route-policy frameworks, filtering mechanisms, prefix distribution systems, and control-plane integration modules.
• Building systems that scale efficiently, are secure by design, and provide strong programmability, observability and debuggability in production.
• Debugging complex system-level issues in large-scale, multi-threaded environments, including high-priority customer escalations.
• Owning issues end-to-end — from root cause analysis through fix development, validation, and deployment.
• Representing Cisco in IETF forums and technical discussions; contributing to protocol evolution and influencing standards where appropriate.
• Collaborating closely with platform, hardware, and test teams to validate performance, scale limits, and system behaviour.
• Mentoring junior engineers and contributing to a culture of technical rigor and ownership.
• Contributing to innovation initiatives, including Cisco’s Patent Program.

Minimum Qualifications (Required)

Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience.

Strong experience developing software in multi-threaded environments with excellent problem-solving skills.

• Practical experience with Data Structures, Operating Systems and Concepts of Data Networking
• Programming experience (C, C++), script languages (Perl, Python)
• Familiarity with Unix/Linux
• Exposure to development of software for large/complex network devices including routing & switching systems.

Preferred Qualifications (Good to have)

• Experience in any Cisco OS – XR, XE or NXOS would be a plus
• Hands-on experience in routing protocols and/or routing infra structure
• Creative problem-solving skills and excellent troubleshooting/debugging skills
• Excellent teamwork and people skills

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.