{"id":3665389,"url":"https://alion.io/job/cisco-systems-software-engineer-software-test-engineer-ios-xr-python-automation-l0l1-optical-testing-8-10-years","title":"Software Engineer- Software Test Engineer – IOS XR | Python Automation | L0/L1 Optical Testing 8 - 10 years","company":{"id":90,"name":"Cisco Systems","domain":"cisco.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/cisco-systems","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":83,"open_postings":239,"ghost_share":0.046,"stale_share":0.498,"repost_share":0.092,"time_to_fill_p50_days":26,"computed_at":"2026-11-03T05:54:40Z"}},"role":"QA","role_family":"QA","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bengaluru, India"],"countries":["IN"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AI Agents","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Copilot","optional":false},{"name":"Docker","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":false},{"name":"gRPC","optional":false},{"name":"Kubernetes","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Model Context Protocol","optional":false},{"name":"OpenStack","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Unix","optional":false},{"name":"VMWare","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-11-03T05:56:28Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-11-03","last_verified_at":"2026-11-03T20:43:30Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":0,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":0},"description":"Meet the Team / Who You'll Work With\nThe Cisco IOS XR Routing Test Team ensures the reliability, scalability, performance, and resiliency of Cisco’s carrier-grade routing platforms. We work closely with software developers, architects, product managers, and customer-facing teams to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end validation across platforms, Optics, Layer 0, Layer 1 optical, routing, subscriber-management, and network-service technologies for service providers, hyperscalers, Optical and web-scale customers operating some of the world’s largest and most demanding networks. Exciting career opportunities open for enthusiastic and experienced Software professionals in India\nOur team values technical depth, automation-first engineering, continuous learning, collaborative problem-solving, and responsible adoption of AI-assisted development practices.\nYour Impact\nCisco provides you an excellent opportunity to take your career aspirations forward. You will bring your unique talents to the group that works on Cisco's routing technology, which large enterprises now consider to be the transport medium of choice for critically important networks. In your role as a Software Test Engineer, you will own the quality validation of IOS XR routing - Platform infra, Optics, Layer 0, Layer 1 capabilities. You will design test strategies, develop automation, validate complex customer scenarios, investigate system-level failures, and provide data-driven release recommendations.\nYour work will help ensure that Cisco delivers stable, scalable, and production-ready networking solutions. You will also mentor junior engineers, improve test frameworks, and use modern AI-assisted tools to accelerate engineering and solving workflows.\nWhat You Will Do\nDesign and implement functional, system, regression, scale, performance, interoperability, resiliency, and high-availability tests for IOS XR routing - Platform Infra/Optics, L0/L1 test features. \nDevelop reusable and scalable test automation using Python and frameworks such as pyATS, Genie, or equivalent tools. \nBuild and maintain physical, virtual, containerized, and cloud-based test environments using Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, clustering technologies, VMware, OpenStack, and network simulation platforms. \nSolve complex issues using IOS XR logs, protocol traces, packet captures, telemetry, RADIUS transactions, crash information, and system-resource data. \nValidate model-driven interfaces and telemetry using YANG, NETCONF, RESTCONF, gNMI, gRPC, OpenConfig, and native IOS XR models. \nIntegrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, code reviews, version control, and regression testing. \nUse approved AI coding assistants and engineering agents for test generation, automation development, log analysis, defect triage, and documentation. \nApply foundational knowledge of generative AI, AI agents, MCPs, reusable AI skills, prompt and context management, and responsible validation of AI-generated output. \nCollaborate across engineering teams, review test designs and automation code, mentor junior engineers, and communicate product-quality risks and release readiness. \nWork on Network automation, algorithmic thinking and Analytics applications derived from customer use cases\nStrong in Software engineering test methodology and process knowledge\nMinimum Qualifications\nBachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related technical field. \nEight or more years of experience in software engineering, network product testing, test automation, or quality engineering. \nExperience configuring and solving Cisco IOS XR or another carrier-grade network operating system. \nAdvanced Python programming skills for test automation, scripting, API interaction, data analysis, and troubleshooting. \nExperience developing system, scale, performance, resiliency, and high-availability test scenarios. \nStrong Linux or Unix skills and experience with Git, code reviews, debugging, and CI/CD pipelines. \nWorking knowledge of cloud, containerization, virtualization, and clustering technologies, including Docker, Kubernetes, VMware, and OpenStack. \nFamiliarity with AI coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot or equivalent tools. \nBasic understanding of generative AI, AI agents, MCP, reusable skills, and responsible AI practices. \nStrong knowledge of software development life cycle. \nStrong analytical, solving, communication, and multi-functional collaboration skills. \nDeep understanding of customer deployments, operations and the ability to translate brown field/green field deployments into test strategy with high efficacy\nQuick 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.\nExperience in test engineering concepts and methodologies including test planning, test case design, test execution and test automation\nExcellent experience in Layer-0, Layer-1 traffic generators and analysers (e.g. Viavi, Agilent, Spirent, IXIA, etc.)\nStrong written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills\nResults oriented with a high degree of accountability, dedication and responsibility\nIndustry certification such as CCNA/CCNP/CCIE/JCNA/JCIE will be a huge plus\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience testing Optical and routing capabilities on Cisco IOS XR platforms such as Cisco 8000, ASR 9000, NCS 5500/5700 and NCS1K\nExperience with traffic generators and subscriber-simulation tools such as IXIA or Spirent or Viavi or JDSU.\nStrong knowledge of Layer 0 , Layer 1 testing along with platform & optics test skills.\nExperience with Datapath, model-driven telemetry, and network programmability. \nFamiliarity with scale and performance characterization. \nExpectations\nThe successful candidate will operate as an experienced individual contributor who can independently own a significant routing or BNG feature area, develop production-quality automation, lead complex technical investigations, identify product and test risks, and provide evidence-based release recommendations.\nThe engineer is also expected to influence test strategy, improve engineering practices, mentor junior team members, and use AI-assisted tools responsibly while maintaining security, accuracy, and engineering accountability.\nWhy Cisco\nAt Cisco, you will work on technologies that power some of the world’s largest networks. You will collaborate with experienced engineers, solve complex technical problems, and contribute to products with global impact.\nCisco provides an inclusive environment, opportunities for continuous learning, and the ability to grow across networking, cloud, automation, and AI technologies.\n#WeAreCisco\nWhy Cisco?\nAt 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.\nFueled 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.\nWe are Cisco, and our power starts with you.\nDisclaimer\nTo ensure that we hire the best talent in the right way, we follow a strict hiring process and recently, Cisco has been made aware of fraudulent recruiters claiming to be from the company. Please be advised that any communication from Cisco about careers will:\nbe in direct response to an application you have submitted through the company career site\nbegin with screening or an interview\noriginate from a Cisco email address, and\nbe conducted across email, phone, or WebEx\nCisco will never make a job offer without conducting an interview process or ask you for money in any way. If you have been requested to apply for a role or have received an offer from a site other than https://careers.cisco.com or cisco.wd5.myworkday.com, do not provide any personal identifying information, including your Aadhaar or other personal identifying number, birth certificate, banking information, driver's license, or passport.\nIf you are the target of a recruiting scam, consider filing a report with your local law enforcement authorities. 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