Contract New Grad Software Engineer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

The application window is expected to close on: 06/17/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

This is a hybrid role at the RTP, NC office.

Meet the Team

The Cisco Enterprise Routing team is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of the platforms that serve as the "connective tissue" for businesses worldwide. Their work ensures that data-ranging from simple office emails to high-bandwidth video conferencing and cloud-based applications-moves securely and efficiently across branch offices, campus networks, and multi-cloud environments.

We are seeking a highly skilled Software Development Engineer to join our team focused on the development of Cisco's new generation Secure Routers. You will be responsible for development across many software layers including low-level drivers, advance networking protocols, high-performance packet forwarding, modern cryptographic security, AI-driven features, modern CPU architecture, and system optimizations for scale and performance.

What You'll Do

• Design and deliver features across the routing stack, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.

• Integrate hardware and software by bringing up new platforms

• Debug complex issues across hardware, firmware, and software layers.

• Develop lowlevel platform software including bootloaders, device drivers, and forwardingplane components.

• Write clean, maintainable code with unit tests; perform code reviews and contribute to secure coding practices.

• Collaborate crossfunctionally with hardware, product, and design teams; mentor peers and interns.

• Lead small to medium features and contribute to roadmap execution.

• Use modern development workflows including AIassisted coding tools and VSCode.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors + 5 years of related experience, or Masters + 3 years of related experience, or PhD + 0 years of related experience.

• C/C++ systems programming in embedded or Linux- based environment.

• Understanding of Operating systems and network models including L2/L3 protocols (Ethernet, VLANs, STP, IP, NAT, FW).

• Debugging skills across hardware, firmware, and software layers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AIassisted development tools (Copilot, Claude, Codex). Our development is integrated with AI-tools for code development, code review, bugs triaging, unit-test plan generation, and documentation.

• Development with device drivers, RTOS/Linux kernels, and hardware-software interfaces.

• Familiarity with modern IDEs and tools.

• Knowledge of hardware-based bring up including system initialization, secure boot chains, and OS level bootstrapping.

• System memory and performance optimization.

• Experience working in crossfunctional and distributed teams.

#sdwanhiring

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 $126,500.00 to $182,000.00 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 ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

$152,500.00 - $252,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$135,800.00 - $224,400.00

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco's sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.