Windows Driver Development Lead

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  • Location:
    Milpitas, California, US
  • Area of Interest
    Engineer - Network
  • Compensation Range
    173100 USD - 241700 USD
  • Job Type
    Professional
  • Technology Interest
    Networking
  • Job Id
    1443368

The application window is expected to close on: 7/25/2025

Meet the Team

Join the Cisco UCS organization—a dynamic group of passionate engineers driving innovation at the intersection of compute, networking, and AI. Our team is dedicated to developing scalable software solutions for next-generation, AI-optimized data centers. With deep expertise in I/O architecture, driver and kernel development, embedded systems, and networking and storage software, we tackle complex challenges with creativity and precision. Collaboration, diversity, and mutual support are the cornerstones of our culture, empowering us to build cutting-edge technologies together.

 Your Impact

Crucial to the role are the capability and the will to learn, understand, implement, improve, explain, promote Cisco VIC based innovative networking technologies. Part of the job are design and development responsibilities in at least one of the following areas:

  • Windows's driver for high-speed networking adapters, PCIe devices or inter-connects
  • Debug and troubleshoot using windows kernel debugger tools
  • ASIC based networking features, processing offloads and SmartNIC features for UCS deployments in enterprise/provider virtualized data centers, network edge, cloud and SDN
  • Networking control and management plane protocols, including interactions with the UCS Manager and the Cisco Nexus Operating system.
  • Knowledgeable about NDKPI (SMB-Direct (RDMA)) stack.
  • Deep understanding of Windows Kernel Internals, Development and Certification environment
  • Knowledgeable about PCIe (PCI Express) protocol and Kernel PCIe Subsystems. 

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
  • 8+ years of experience in C/C++ programming, with a strong background in device driver or kernel development (preferably on Windows platforms)
  • Experience in debugging with WinDbg and skilled in analyzing and triaging Windows crash dumps
  • Experience using tools like Tcpdump/Wireshark to analyze network traffic
  • Experience with RDMA and RoCEv2 protocols

Preferred Qualifications

  • Knowledge in GPU direct / DirectGMA / Multi-GPU preferred
  • Storage protocols, such as FC / FCoE, iSCSI / SCSI, NVMeOF (RDMA / TCP) preferred

#WeAreCisco

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. Simply put – we power the future. 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:

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.

Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday. Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period. Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations. All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter.  Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours. Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind. All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. 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 up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

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