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# Principal Software Engineer

- **Company:** Cisco Systems, Inc.
- **Location:** New York, NY, United States
- **Experience:** Experienced
- **Salary:** $250,600.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Computing Platforms, C++ (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Cloud Engineering, System Configuration, Distributed Systems, Python (Programming Language), Software Engineering, Backend, Kubernetes, Infrastructure Automation Frameworks, Splunk, Golang
- **Published:** September 5, 2026
- **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/main/sendform/8/8/28176/1/18214937?backUrl=%2Fcareer%2F18214937%2FPrincipal-Software-Engineer-California-San-Jose

## About the Role

* Bachelors in related field with 15 years experience.
 * 10+ years of professional software engineering experience building backend, platform, infrastructure, or distributed systems.

 * 5+ years of experience designing, building, or operating production distributed systems.

 * 2+ years of hands-on Kubernetes experience, including workload orchestration, operators/controllers, or cloud-native deployment patterns.

 * Experience designing production APIs, lifecycle orchestration, configuration systems, upgrade systems, or platform services.

 * Professional experience with at least one backend/platform programming language such as Go, C++, Java, Python

Preferred Qualifications

 * Experience with Kubernetes operators, control planes, developer platforms, infrastructure automation, or large-scale platform services.

 * Experience modernizing legacy or monolithic enterprise systems toward cloud-native operating models.

 * Experience with enterprise customer commitments, regulated environments, cloud/on-prem deployment variance, and long-lived compatibility expectations.

 * Ability to synthesize ambiguous cross-team requirements into clear technical direction, tradeoffs, and execution plans.

 * Interest in using AI-assisted engineering tools responsibly for code comprehension, review preparation, test planning, incident triage, documentation, or migration analysis.

## Description

Lead technical direction for Kubernetes-based platform architecture that makes Splunk easier to deploy, operate, upgrade, diagnose, and evolve. Translate complex product, customer, and feature-team requirements into practical designs, engineering contracts, and implementation plans. Partner across core runtime, Kubernetes operator, configuration, application platform, search, security, cloud, and product teams to align execution around reusable architecture. Identify cross-component dependencies, failure modes, lifecycle gaps, and migration risks before they become release or customer-impacting issues. Drive incremental modernization of a mature enterprise platform while preserving customer trust, compatibility, and operational quality.


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