Senior Software Engineer, Solution Validation, Benchmarking & Release Engineering

Cisco

Confirmed live yesterday High trust

Hybrid

Quick summary

Work type: Hybrid
Location: Milpitas, CASan Jose, CA
Salary: $167,700–$245,200 / yr
Employment: Full-time
Posted: 4 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Closes: Nov 30, 2026
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $174k

This role $206k

$105k $260k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 79% of similar roles. Most pay $149,500–$198,900 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $206k versus about $174k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About Cisco

Cisco Systems is the world''s leading networking technology company, designing and manufacturing networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and cybersecurity solutions for businesses and governments. Industry: Networking Technology & Cybersecurity

Cisco currently has 267 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $167,700–$245,000 across 201 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Senior Software Engineer, Solution Validation, Benchmarking & Release Engineering

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The Senior Software Engineer, Solution Validation, Benchmarking & Release Engineering joins the Cisco Validated Infrastructure Services team to ensure the performance of large AI clusters. You will own end-to-end solution testing, including GPU debugging, performance profiling, and bottleneck analysis for AI cluster and Cisco network-switch solutions. Daily responsibilities involve developing test plans, validation matrices, and automation while executing CVIS/NVIS, GPU burn, NCCL, workload, resilience, and interoperability test suites. You will model workloads, produce benchmark reports, and drive defect triage and release qualification. Required skills include Python, Linux, and experience with test strategy, performance analysis, and technical writing. The role specifically addresses the technical challenge of validating multi-plane, ToR, compute, storage, and software integrations to provide evidence that complex infrastructure is ready for service.

What does a Software Engineer earn in California?

Median $214500 from 1223 postings across 78 companies.

See salary data

Skills

Python Linux Kubernetes NCCL Slurm NVIDIA GPU Performance Profiling Network Testing Storage Validation Workload Modeling Benchmark Engineering Observability Release Management API Services Infrastructure Automation

What you'll do

Develop test plans, validation matrices, automation, and exit criteria for AI cluster solutions.
Execute CVIS/NVIS, GPU burn, NCCL, workload, resilience, and interoperability test suites.
Model workloads, profile end-to-end performance, and analyze system bottlenecks.
Produce benchmark reports and evidence for AI cluster and Cisco network-switch solutions.
Validate Cisco network-switch, multi-plane, ToR, compute, storage, and software integrations.
Drive defect triage, evidence collection, release qualification, and RA certification.
Package acceptance reports and manage release readiness for AI infrastructure.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree plus 7 years of related experience, Master's plus 4 years, or PhD plus 1 year of related experience.
Experience building and executing end-to-end validation for GPU or distributed AI systems.
Experience with test strategy, automation, Python, Linux, performance analysis, and defect-triage skills.
Experience translating system requirements into measurable tests, acceptance criteria, and release gates.
Experience with technical writing and cross-functional communication.
Experience with NVIS, NVIDIA GPU platforms, NCCL, Kubernetes, Slurm, network testing, and storage validation (preferred).
Experience with benchmark engineering, workload modeling, CI-based testing, observability, and release management (preferred).
Experience with Cisco networking and AI cluster reference architectures (preferred).