Software QA Engineer

Senior Software Test Engineer

The application window is expected to close on 2/30/2026. This is an onsite role and will require working out of our San Jose, CA office location. You will be part of a dynamic and highly collaborative QA team dedicated to delivering high-quality diagnostic images and tools for a diverse range of Cisco products, including Cisco 800G Routers and Nexus 9K Series Data Center switches. Our team specializes in both software QA and automation tool development, partnering closely with development teams to create dashboards and websites that facilitate streamlined development, debugging, and manufacturing release processes. This role offers a unique opportunity to explore all aspects of the engineering lifecycle, from hardware component validation to web development.

Your Impact: As a Senior Software Test Engineer on the Quality and Diagnostic team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and reliability of Cisco's cutting-edge hardware and software solutions. Your focus will span tool development, QA regression, and test infrastructure enhancements, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, scalable, and innovative diagnostic solutions.

Your responsibilities include:

• Design, develop, and maintain advanced automation tools that streamline diagnostic and QA workflows, driving efficiency and consistency across test cycles.
• Enhance and support QA infrastructure by implementing updates or new features using Python or Tcl/Expect, ensuring high system reliability and adaptability.
• Validate programmable components including FPGA, BIOS, CPLD, and VRM to guarantee seamless integration and optimal hardware performance.
• Assist in the Diag image manufacturing release process, ensuring image quality and readiness for production deployment.
• Develop and execute comprehensive validation of SONiC BSP APIs in Python, enabling full access and control of underlying hardware components.
• Carry out a range of routine QA activities, such as bug tracking, issue isolation, debug script creation, image building, system maintenance, and more, to uphold and improve product quality.
• Maintain and expand the existing Diag QA infrastructure, including web interfaces; contribute to new feature/page development across both front-end and back-end domains.
• Leverage AI-driven tools and methodologies to accelerate development and testing processes, enabling faster delivery and higher quality outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors + 5 years of related experience or Masters + 3 years of related experience
• 5+ years of experience in Python scripting and Software QA.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in network router/switch traffic and platform testing.
• At least 6 months of experience with AI tools like Copilot or Curser

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with SONiC and its associated technologies.
• Experience with OpenBMC QA and regression, CI/CD, and REST APIs.
• Familiarity with the following is a plus: Diag Release process, start from Image build, regression, reporting, bug filling, reproducing issues, validation fixes, and manufacturing release.
• Strong understanding of hardware components, including CPU, BIOS, ASIC, and memory is a plus.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Linux.
• Experience in web development using languages like: JavaScript, Node.js, or Express.

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.

Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.