Software Engineer, DPU Networking stack

Cisco

Remote Hybrid

Quick summary

Work type
Remote
Location
Milpitas, CA
Salary
$165,000–$241,400 / yr
Posted
2 days ago
Closes
Jul 31, 2026

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $177k
This role $203k
$131k most similar roles pay here $253k

This role pays more than 68% of similar roles. Most pay $142,437–$211,200 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $203k versus about $177k 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 174 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $165,000–$241,400 across 174 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Software Engineer, DPU Networking stack

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Cisco is seeking a senior software engineer to join its team developing a next-generation DPU-enabled networking platform for secure and high-performance infrastructure. The role involves designing and implementing programmable packet processing pipelines and integrating SDKs across modern SmartNIC/DPU platforms like NVIDIA BlueField and AMD Pensando. Day-to-day responsibilities include working with P4 or similar pipeline models, building capabilities such as firewall policy enforcement and telemetry, and validating performance metrics. Candidates should have strong systems programming skills in C/C++, Go, Rust, Python, and experience with Linux networking. Preferred qualifications include hands-on experience with DPU SDKs, programmable packet pipelines, DPDK, OVS, and eBPF/XDP. This role addresses the growing need for efficient and secure data center environments at scale.

Skills

C/C++ Go Rust Python Linux DPDK OVS TC flower eBPF/XDP SR-IOV P4 NVIDIA BlueField SDKs AMD Pensando SDKs DPU SmartNIC FPGA ASIC NPU CI/CD

What you'll do

  • Design and implement DPU-based packet-processing pipelines for security and network services.
  • Work with DPU SDKs and P4 models to build programmable pipeline capabilities.
  • Develop software across DPU firmware/SDK interfaces, host drivers, and user-space control components.
  • Debug complex issues spanning multiple system layers including host, DPU, and kernel.
  • Validate performance metrics such as throughput, latency, scale, and offload correctness.
  • Create portable abstractions for heterogeneous DPU and SmartNIC architectures.

What we're looking for

  • Proficient in systems programming with C/C++, Go, Rust, Python or similar languages.
  • Experience building production networking, packet-processing, security, infrastructure, or systems software.
  • Practical knowledge of Linux networking and debugging complex Linux-based systems.
  • Hands-on experience with DPU, SmartNIC, FPGA, ASIC, NPU, or hardware-offloaded networking platforms.
  • Familiarity with NVIDIA BlueField SDKs, AMD Pensando SDKs, P4, programmable packet pipelines, DPDK, OVS, TC flower, eBPF/XDP, SR-IOV, VF/PF, kernel bypass, and packet-processing acceleration.

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