Key Responsibilities
Design & Development:
Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of L2/L3 protocol features on Cisco's networking operating systems.
Protocol Ownership:
Take ownership of the complete development lifecycle for key protocols, including feature enhancements and full or partial protocol stack development from scratch.
Debugging & Bug Fixes:
Act as an escalation point for complex technical issues. Perform deep-dive analysis and debugging of critical bugs in a multi-threaded environment.
Architecture Contribution:
Contribute to the software architecture for L2/L3 components, ensuring designs are scalable, resilient, and maintainable.
Code Excellence:
Write high-quality, high-performance C code in a Linux-based environment, utilizing best practices for Multi-Threading and Socket Programming.
Technical Leadership:
Mentor junior engineers, lead technical discussions, and conduct code reviews to ensure adherence to coding standards and best practices.
Required Skills & Qualifications (Must-Haves)
Experience:
6 to 18 years of strong, hands-on experience in L2/L3 protocol development.
Cisco OS Expertise:
Mandatory hands-on experience developing and debugging on Cisco OS like IOS, IOS-XE, or NX-OS.
Programming Skills:
Expert-level programming skills in C within a Linux environment.
Core CS Fundamentals
Very strong understanding of Data Structures and Algorithms.
Proven working experience in Multi-Threading and Socket Programming.
L2 Protocol Expertise
In-depth knowledge and development experience in protocols such as:
VLAN, STP, RSTP, MSTP
VXLAN
LLDP, LAG (LACP)
L3 Protocol Expertise
In-depth knowledge and development experience in protocols such as:
Routing: BGP, OSPF, RIP, EIGRP
Multicast: IGMP, PIM
Tunneling & VPN: MPLS, GRE, IPSec
Desired Skills & Qualifications (Added Plus)
Experience working with the SONIC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) Network Operating System.
Knowledge of programmable packet pipelines and forwarding ASICs (e.g., Broadcom, Barefoot).
Familiarity with scripting languages like Python for automation and testing.

L2/L3 Protocol Development Lead Engineer/Senior Lead Engineer

Job Description

Required Skills