The application window is expected to close on:

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

2019741 - Software Engineer (Hybrid)

• The application window is expected to close on: August 28, 2026
• Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
• The role is listed as hybrid – workers in this role are expected to work the listed location on a semi-regular basis.

Meet the Team

The FIPS Security Toolkit team is a critical component of the Security and Trust Organization within Cisco. We are responsible for the ongoing maintenance, operational support, and lifecycle management of the FIPS Security Toolkit, which provides reusable security libraries and modules that serve as the foundation for Cisco’s diverse product portfolio. We work at the intersection of cryptography, system integrity, and Cisco Secure Development Lifecycles (CSDL), ensuring that our products remain resilient against evolving threats in the AI era.

Your Impact

As a Grade 6 Software Engineer, you will take an active role in maintaining our FIPS Security Toolkit, which plays a crucial part in ensuring the ease of adoption for our security modules across the organization. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that security is not an afterthought but a core feature of our architecture. This role is exciting because you will tackle complex security challenges, contribute to open-source initiatives, and directly influence the security posture of Cisco’s product portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and support the FIPS Security Toolkit, ensuring high availability and operational stability.
• Conduct thorough security code reviews and provide actionable feedback to improve overall codebase quality.
• Collaborate with product teams to integrate common security modules into existing and new hardware/software platforms.
• Provide operational support and troubleshoot integration issues with product teams.
• Analyze and remediate security vulnerabilities in accordance with industry-standard CVE mitigation practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant software engineering experience.
• Strong understanding of Linux fundamentals and proficiency in bash scripting.
• Strong knowledge of RPM and DEB software package management.
• Experience with Git version control systems and automating CI/CD workflows using GitHub Actions.
• Demonstrated proficiency in at least one high-level programming language - C, C++ ,Python, or GO.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
• Experience utilizing AI-powered development tools to enhance coding efficiency, accelerate debugging, and optimize development workflows.
• Experience working with OpenSSL and OpenSSH cryptographic libraries and knowledge of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standards.
• Demonstrated flexibility and agility, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work effectively in a global, distributed team environment with a focus on empathy and collaboration.

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 $103,200.00 to $146,800.00 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:

$125,700.00 - $203,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$111,700.00 - $180,800.00

* 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.