Software Engineer- Software Test Engineer – IOS XR | Python Automation | L0/L1 Optical Testing 8 - 10 years

Overview

Software Test Engineer on the Cisco IOS XR Routing Test Team, owning quality validation of IOS XR routing covering platform infrastructure, Optics, Layer 0 and Layer 1 capabilities.

What you'll do

• Design and implement functional, system, regression, scale, performance, interoperability, resiliency and high-availability tests for IOS XR routing Platform Infra/Optics and L0/L1 test features.
• Develop reusable, 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.

What you'll need

• 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 the software development life cycle.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication and multi-functional collaboration skills.
• Deep understanding of customer deployments and 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 strategic on-the-box and 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 and Layer-1 traffic generators and analysers (e.g. Viavi, Agilent, Spirent, IXIA, etc.).
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Results oriented, with a high degree of accountability, dedication and responsibility.

Nice to have

• Industry certification such as CCNA/CCNP/CCIE/JCNA/JCIE.
• 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, Spirent, Viavi or JDSU.
• Strong knowledge of Layer 0 and Layer 1 testing along with platform and optics test skills.
• Experience with Datapath, model-driven telemetry and network programmability.
• Familiarity with scale and performance characterization.

Details

• Location: Bangalore, India.