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# Software Engineer Technical Leader - Network Data...

- **Company:** Cisco Systems, Inc.
- **Location:** Clayton, MO, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $210,600.0 - $305,100.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** C++ (Programming Language), Code Review, Computer Networks, Computer Engineering, Software Debugging, Network Troubleshooting, Network Layer, Linux System Administration, Network Architecture, Network Protocols, Performance Tuning, Software Engineering, Data Processing, Production Code, Cisco
- **Published:** July 27, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.juju.com/job/00000000gjvpev

## About the Role

+ Bachelor's degree inComputer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field and 12+ years of related experience, orMaster'sdegree with 10+ years, or PhD with 7+ years of related experience.

 + 10+ years of professional software development experience using C or C++ in Linux environments.

 + Experience developing networking or data plane software with strong knowledge of Layer 2, Layer 3, and common networking protocols.

 + Experience developing oroptimizinghigh-performance packet processing applications using DPDK, networking stacks, or similar technologies.

 + Experience designing, implementing, debugging, reviewing, and delivering production-quality systems software.

Preferred Qualifications

 + Experience developing software for Data Processing Units (DPUs),SmartNICs, network processors, or networking appliances.

 + Experience with P4 or other programmable data plane technologies.

 + Experience contributing to networking architecture, systems software design, or large-scale distributed networking solutions.

 + Experience working across cross-functional or geographically distributed engineering teams.

## Description

As a Software Engineer Technical Leader, you'll play a key role in designing, developing, and optimizing the data plane software powering Cisco Hypershield Smart Switches. This is a highly technical, hands-on individual contributor role where you'll spend the majority of your time writing production-quality code, solving complex networking problems, and influencing technical direction through engineering leadership.

You'll work across the full software development lifecycle-from technical design and implementation to debugging, performance optimization, code reviews, and customer issue resolution-while partnering closely with software, hardware, and security engineering teams.

In this role, you will:

 + Design, develop, andoptimizehigh-performance data plane software using modern C/C++ on Linux-based systems.

 + Develop networking software for DPU-based Smart Switch platforms, enabling scalable packet processing and advanced security capabilities.

 + Troubleshoot complex software defects, networking issues, and customer-reported problems while improving performance, scalability, and reliability.

 + Lead technical design discussions,participateinarchitectureand code reviews, and provide technical mentorship across the engineering organization.

 + Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to deliver innovative networking and security capabilities for CiscoHypershieldSmart Switches.


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