Software Engineering Technical Leader

The application window is expected to close on: 08/03/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received . ***We are looking for candidates local to RTP as this is a hybrid role requiring at least 3 days per week onsite in the office*** Meet the Team The Customer Validation Testing (CVT) team is at the forefront of developing solutions that power the largest networks in the world. Engineers on this team will collaborate with dedicated, dynamic, hardworking team members to work on the qualification and automation of influential technologies, XR platforms, and solutions for deployment in high-end Cisco Web and Service Provider customers, impacting an endless number of users worldwide. The team is comprised of talented engineers with diverse experience levels, ranging from 3 to over 20 years, bringing significant expertise to the table. With a global presence, the team operates from centers in the US, Canada, and India. Your Impact As a Solution Qualification/Automation Technical Leader, you will be responsible for designing, automating, configuring, and qualifying customer use cases based on IOS-XR for platforms such as ASR9K, NCS5500, and 8000. This role includes bringing up customer solutions in cisco lab, developing innovative test frameworks and web-based GUIs that leverage analytics and machine learning, as well as driving automated and manual test cases on validating the solution. You will collaborate globally with internal development teams and account management teams to ensure alignment and understanding of the work. You will also… Collaborate with internal teams to understand customer use cases and design the topology to replicate their solutions Reproduce customer environments in internal labs using hardware, traffic generators, and open-source tools to validate solutions Accurately replicate network protocols, using tools and technologies to mimic real-world scenarios for testing and validation purposes Design and develop innovative test frameworks and tools to support the test execution environment plans Monitor and optimize performance of the customer’s network environment Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors in STEM with 8+ years of relevant experience Experience in developing automation tools, test frameworks, and network validation scripts using Python Hands-on experience with Layer 2/Layer 3 networking protocols such as BGP, OSPF, ISIS, MPLS, Segment Routing, and Multicast technologies Experience in network automation (e.g., using pyATS or similar), protocol testing, and software quality assurance Experience reproducing customer environments, perform root cause analysis, and delivering solutions for large-scale service providers or enterprise deployments Experience in configuring, validating, and troubleshooting routing platforms (e.g., Nexus switches), with experience in hardware-based forwarding Preferred Qualifications: Hands on experience with GIT, Jira, Jenkins and CI/CD pipeline tools Industry certification such as CCIE/CCNP/Cisco DevNet will be a plus Experience with network monitoring tools like Grafana, telegraf and InfluxDB and traffic generators like Ixia and Spirent Experience with network programmability - gNMI, gRPC, NETCONF, YANG , REST API, RPC Knowledge of Linux/OS such as CentOS, Redhat, Ubuntu and expertise on Bash/Unix Shell Scripting Knowledge of virtualization and containerization technologies - KVM, VMware, Docker, and Kubernetes Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. Understanding and hands on Cisco IOS/IOS-XR platforms Experience with AI and ML is a plus Experience in configuring, validating, and troubleshooting routing platforms (e.g., Cisco ASR, NCS, 8000, Nexus, Catalyst or non-Cisco router/switch), with experience in hardware-based forwarding #WeAreCisco #WeAreCisco where every individual brings their unique skills and perspectives together to pursue our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all. Our passion is connection—we celebrate our employees’ diverse set of backgrounds and focus on unlocking potential. Cisconians often experience one company, many careers where learning and development are encouraged and supported at every stage. Our technology, tools, and culture pioneered hybrid work trends, allowing all to not only give their best, but be their best. We understand our outstanding opportunity to bring communities together and at the heart of that is our people. One-third of Cisconians collaborate in our 30 employee resource organizations, called Inclusive Communities, to connect, foster belonging, learn to be informed allies, and make a difference. Dedicated paid time off to volunteer—80 hours each year—allows us to give back to causes we are passionate about, and nearly 86% do! Our purpose, driven by our people, is what makes us the worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet. Helping our customers reimagine their applications, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals is what we do best. We ensure that every step we take is a step towards a more inclusive future for all. Take your next step and be you, with us! 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