Software Test Engineer

The Cisco IOS XR Routing Test Team ensures the reliability, scalability, performance, and resiliency of Cisco's carrier-grade routing platforms.

As a Software Test Engineer, you will own the quality validation of IOS XR routing – Platform infra, Optics, Layer 0, Layer 1 capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement functional, system, regression, scale, performance, interoperability, resiliency, and high-availability tests for IOS XR routing – Platform Infra/Optics, L0/L1 test features.
• Develop reusable and scalable test automation using Python and frameworks such as pyATS, Genie, or equivalent tools.
• Build and maintain physical, virtual, containerized, and cloud-based test environments using Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, clustering technologies, VMware, OpenStack, and network simulation platforms.
• Solve complex issues using IOS XR logs, protocol traces, packet captures, telemetry, RADIUS transactions, crash information, and system-resource data.
• Validate model-driven interfaces and telemetry using YANG, NETCONF, RESTCONF, gNMI, gRPC, OpenConfig, and native IOS XR models.
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, code reviews, version control, and regression testing.
• Use approved AI coding assistants and engineering agents for test generation, automation development, log analysis, defect triage, and documentation.
• Apply foundational knowledge of generative AI, AI agents, MCPs, reusable AI skills, prompt and context management, and responsible validation of AI-generated output.
• Collaborate across engineering teams, review test designs and automation code, mentor junior engineers, and communicate product-quality risks and release readiness.
• Work on Network automation, algorithmic thinking and Analytics applications derived from customer use cases.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related technical field.
• Eight or more years of experience in software engineering, network product testing, test automation, or quality engineering.
• Experience configuring and solving Cisco IOS XR or another carrier-grade network operating system.
• Advanced Python programming skills for test automation, scripting, API interaction, data analysis, and troubleshooting.
• Experience developing system, scale, performance, resiliency, and high-availability test scenarios.
• Strong Linux or Unix skills and experience with Git, code reviews, debugging, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Working knowledge of cloud, containerization, virtualization, and clustering technologies, including Docker, Kubernetes, VMware, and OpenStack.
• Familiarity with AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot or equivalent tools.
• Basic understanding of generative AI, AI agents, MCP, reusable skills, and responsible AI practices.
• Strong knowledge of software development life cycle.
• Strong analytical, solving, communication, and multi-functional collaboration skills.
• Deep understanding of customer deployments, operations and the ability to translate brown field/green field deployments into test strategy with high efficacy.
• Quick learner with an open mind to "grey box" testing, bringing in strategic on-the-box, off-the-box views that reflect the state of IOS-XR systems.
• Experience in test engineering concepts and methodologies including test planning, test case design, test execution and test automation.
• Excellent experience in Layer-0, Layer-1 traffic generators and analysers (e.g. Viavi, Agilent, Spirent, IXIA, etc.).
• Strong written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Results oriented with a high degree of accountability, dedication and responsibility.
• Industry certification such as CCNA/CCNP/CCIE/JCNA/JCIE will be a huge plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience testing Optical and routing capabilities on Cisco IOS XR platforms such as Cisco 8000, ASR 9000, NCS 5500/5700 and NCS1K.
• Experience with traffic generators and subscriber-simulation tools such as IXIA or Spirent or Viavi or JDSU.
• Strong knowledge of Layer 0 , Layer 1 testing along with platform & optics test skills.
• Experience with Datapath, model-driven telemetry, and network programmability.
• Familiarity with scale and performance characterization.