Senior Software Engineer, DPU Networking Software Stack

Senior Software Engineer, DPU Networking Software Stack Location: Milpitas, California, US The application window is expected to close on: 07/31/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received. This is a Hybid position located in Milpitas Ca. Ideally 3 days per week in office. Meet the Team Cisco is building a next-generation DPU-enabled networking platform for secure, high-performance infrastructure and large-scale AI clusters. Our team is responsible for designing the foundational networking, security, and programmable services that span host systems, DPUs, SmartNICs, and cloud-scale control planes. We work at the intersection of systems software, hardware acceleration, distributed security, and AI infrastructure, creating platforms that deliver line-rate performance, strong isolation, operational reliability, and simplified deployment across modern data center environments. We are looking for a senior software engineer to help explore, design, and deliver the platform that connects hosts, DPUs, security services, and Cisco networking functions into a reliable production system. This role focuses on the software architecture above and around the DPU data path: host networking services, control-plane integration, policy programming, firewall and service integration, lifecycle management, observability, and operational workflows. The ideal candidate can evaluate existing networking stacks, prototype new approaches, and turn the right ideas into production-quality software. What You’ll Do Your Impact Explore, prototype, and build the software stack for DPU-accelerated host networking and network services. Design platform components that integrate DPU networking, host agents, Cisco firewall services, policy systems, telemetry, and service lifecycle management. Build software for network functions such as firewall, policy enforcement, NAT, VTEP, load balancing, segmentation, observability, and service chaining. Evaluate networking stack options and help define the architecture for a scalable replacement or evolution of existing host networking approaches. Develop production-quality systems software in Go, C/C++, Rust, Python, or similar languages. Work across Linux networking, containers, virtualization, routing, OVS, DPDK, tc, eBPF/XDP, iptables/nftables, namespaces, SR-IOV, and VF/PF models. Define APIs, configuration models, operational workflows, upgrade behavior, health checks, and failure handling. Debug issues across distributed control plane, host networking, DPU services, data path, and production environments. Own well-scoped features from design through implementation, tests, rollout, operational documentation, and production support. Partner with product, security, platform, firmware, and operations teams to deliver customer-ready networking capabilities. Mentor peers through technical design, code review, documentation, and cross-team guidance. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree with 7+ years of related experience, Master’s with 4+ years, or PhD with 1+ year. Strong software engineering experience in Go, C/C++, Rust, Python, or similar infrastructure-oriented languages. Experience building production software for networking, infrastructure, distributed systems, security, or platform services. Practical knowledge of Linux networking, host networking, or cloud networking. Ability to independently own medium-sized features from technical design through delivery. Preferred Qualifications Experience building or operating host networking platforms, virtual networking stacks, firewalls, service meshes, SDN systems, or network function platforms. Familiarity with DPU or SmartNIC architectures, including host/DPU split designs, Arm-side services, offload models, and platform integration. Experience with Cisco firewall, security services, or similar network security platforms. Experience with DPDK, OVS, eBPF/XDP, tc, routing, BGP, SR-IOV, VF/PF, Kubernetes networking, CNI, or kernel bypass. Experience evaluating build-vs-buy options, replacing legacy networking stacks, or integrating multiple network services into a unified platform. Strong judgment in balancing performance, portability, security, reliability, and operational simplicity 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 $165,000.00 to $241,400.00 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: $165,000.00 - $277,600.00 Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $146,700.00 - $247,000.00 * 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. Additional Locations: San Jose, California, US