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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal Software Engineer - **Company:** Cisco Systems, Inc. - **Location:** Milpitas, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $250,600.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Microsoft Access, Java (Programming Language), Adobe InDesign, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Cloud Computing Security, Cloud Engineering, Software Quality, Code Review, Cyber Security, Distributed Systems, Domain Name System Security Extensions, Python (Programming Language), NoSQL, Systems Development Life Cycle, Zero Trust Network Access, Software Safety, Web Application Security, Software Engineering, Data Streaming, TypeScript, Web Application Frameworks, Web Performance Optimization, Feature Engineering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, Large Language Models, Multi-Agent Systems, Model Validation, Backend, Kubernetes, Information Technology, Apache Kafka, Data Management, Machine Learning Operations, Api Design, Data Pipelines, Cisco, Service Stack, Microservices - **Published:** September 8, 2026 - **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/main/sendform/8/8/28176/1/18226632?backUrl=%2Fcareer%2F18226632%2FPrincipal-Software-Engineer-California-Milpitas ## About the Role * A Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering or Computer Science with a minimum of 17+ years of relevant industry experience, or a Master's degree and 10 years of relevant industry experience owning architecture and technical strategy across multiple teams, from problem definition and system design through rollout, adoption, and operational support. * 7+ years of experience in a technical leadership role and architecture. * 10+ years experience in development in AWS cloud or similar and proficiency in Python, Go or Java. * Deep expertise in distributed systems, cloud-native architecture, APIs, micro-services architecture, data platforms, multi-tenant services, and production operations. * Experience building agentic systems and leveraging AI to improve productivity across the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Preferred requirements: * Experience with SSE/SASE, zero-trust architecture, identity-aware access, authorization, secure web access, data protection, DNS security, browser isolation, or digital experience monitoring. * Experience with LLM applications, retrieval-augmented generation, agent orchestration, tool calling, prompt and context management, model evaluation, LLMOps, AI safety, guardrails, and responsible AI. * Experience with streaming data, feature engineering, anomaly detection, behavioral or graph analytics, model drift, explain-ability, feedback loops, and investigation or analyst workflows. * Experience with data pipelines handling large volumes and sound knowledge in technologies such as Kafka, Kubernetes, NoSQL. * Experience with modern frontend frameworks, TypeScript, component or design systems, web performance, accessibility, browser security, API design, and backend-for-frontend architecture. * Ability to work independently, research current and emerging technologies, propose changes as needed to cater to changing business / technical conditions. * Ability to optimally lead teams and inspire others to achieve goals through innovation, quality and excellence. * Excellent debugging skills, ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex system level stability or scalability issues. * A track record of setting engineering standards, resolving cross-organization architectural tension, mentoring principal-level talent, and communicating complex ideas to mixed audiences. ## Description You will serve as a Principal Software Engineer within Cisco's cloud security business group, collaborating across multiple fast-paced teams to design, develop, and deliver scalable, supportable, and maintainable production-quality applications! Your responsibilities include building new capabilities to the products as well as and improving existing processes and architecture, developing, partnering with internal and external teams to understand business and technical requirements and documenting technical specifications for development. You will oversee architecture, design, code quality, and deployments, while also documenting and communicating technical solutions to architecture groups and leadership. Additionally, you will participate in design and code reviews, mentor junior developers, evaluate new technology stacks and third-party tools through proof of concepts and benchmarks, and troubleshoot sophisticated system-level stability and scalability issues. ## Related Videos - [How Cisco embraced a DevOps culture within its network engineering team](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/99-how-cisco-embraced-a-devops-culture-within-its-network-engineering-team) - [The Software Engineer 2030: From Coder To AI Orchestrator? - Patrick Schnell](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1825-the-software-engineer-2030-from-coder-to-ai-orchestrator-patrick-schnell) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Leveraging Real time data in FSIs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/806-leveraging-real-time-data-in-fsis) - [Next Level Enterprise Architecture: Modular, Flexible, Scalable, Multichannel and AI-Ready?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1017-next-level-enterprise-architecture-modular-flexible-scalable-multichannel-and-ai-ready) - [Nest.js - TypeScript in the backend can also be clean](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1033-nest-js-typescript-in-the-backend-can-also-be-clean) ## Related Articles - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [What is Software Engineering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/289-what-is-software-engineering) - [Top Characteristics of a Software Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/166-top-characteristics-of-a-software-engineer) - [7 Important Tips That Every Software Developer Should Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/101-7-important-tips-that-every-software-developer-should-know) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer)