L2/L3 Protocol Development Lead Engineer/Sr Lead Engineer

Lead / Senior Lead Engineer / Architect - L2/L3 Protocol Development (Cisco IOS)
Location : Bangalore, India
Experience : 6 - 18 Years
Designation : Lead Engineer / Senior Lead Engineer / Architect
Position Overview
We are seeking an accomplished and highly motivated Technical Lead with deep expertise in L2/L3 network protocol development to join our core engineering team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining critical protocol software on industry-leading Cisco platforms like IOS, IOS-XE, and NX-OS. This is a hands-on technical leadership position where you will tackle everything from full-scale protocol development to resolving complex, time-sensitive bugs. You will leverage your strong C programming skills and deep understanding of network architecture to build robust, scalable, and high-performance networking solutions. Key Responsibilities
- Design & Development : Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of L2/L3 protocol features on Cisco's networking operating systems. - Protocol Ownership : Take ownership of the complete development lifecycle for key protocols, including feature enhancements and full or partial protocol stack development from scratch. - Debugging & Bug Fixes : Act as an escalation point for complex technical issues. Perform deep-dive analysis and debugging of critical bugs in a multi-threaded environment. - Architecture Contribution : Contribute to the software architecture for L2/L3 components, ensuring designs are scalable, resilient, and maintainable. - Code Excellence : Write high-quality, high-performance C code in a Linux-based environment, utilizing best practices for Multi-Threading and Socket Programming. - Technical Leadership : Mentor junior engineers, lead technical discussions, and conduct code reviews to ensure adherence to coding standards and best practices. Required Skills & Qualifications (Must-Haves)
- Experience : 6 to 18 years of strong, hands-on experience in L2/L3 protocol development. - Cisco OS Expertise : Mandatory hands-on experience developing and debugging on Cisco OS like IOS, IOS-XE, or NX-OS. - Programming Skills : Expert-level programming skills in C within a Linux environment. Core CS Fundamentals :
- Very strong understanding of Data Structures and algorithms. - Proven working experience in Multi-Threading and Socket Programming. L2 Protocol Expertise :

In-depth knowledge and development experience in protocols such as :
- VLAN, STP, RSTP, MSTP - VXLAN - LLDP, LAG (LACP) L3 Protocol Expertise :

In-depth knowledge and development experience in protocols such as :
- Routing : BGP, OSPF, RIP, EIGRP - Multicast : IGMP, PIM - Tunneling & VPN : MPLS, GRE, IPSec Desired Skills & Qualifications (Added Plus)
- Experience working with the SONIC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) Network Operating System. - Knowledge of programmable packet pipelines and forwarding ASICs (e.g., Broadcom, Barefoot). - Familiarity with scripting languages like Python for automation and testing. Notice Period :
This is a high-priority requirement. Candidates who are immediate joiners or are currently serving a notice period of 30 days or less are strongly preferred.