CPT Embedded Software Engineer Jobs
Embedded Software Engineer CPT jobs let F-1 students apply firmware, RTOS, and hardware-software integration skills in industry before graduation. CPT must be authorized by your DSO and tied directly to your degree program, making roles in automotive, robotics, IoT, and defense electronics strong fits for academic approval.
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INTRODUCTION
Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.
Applications accepted until further notice.
Meet the Team
The Cisco Product Organization is the engine behind the platforms, technologies, and solutions defining the next generation of connectivity. Spanning AI Software & Platforms, Core Product Engineering, Collaboration, Security, Networking, Silicon, and Observability, we build the critical infrastructure that powers the digital world. Millions of people rely on our platforms every day, and our teams work together to build, refine, and scale products that drive meaningful impact. We are a team of passionate innovators, united by our curiosity, collaboration, and dedication to helping one another do our best work. Ready to help us build what's next?
The Cisco Product Internship Program offers a 12-week summer experience designed to welcome early-career talent into this mission. We embed interns within high-impact teams, where they collaborate directly on the products, platforms, and architectures shaping Cisco's future and powering the AI era. Throughout the program, interns have the opportunity to participate in targeted learning sessions, multi-functional networking, and direct engagement with leaders across the organization. By immersing interns in real-world challenges, we help them build the technical skills, confidence, and collaborative approach needed to envision a long-term, impactful career at Cisco.
Your Impact
You’ll dive deep into C and embedded Linux to build the low-level software that keeps our global network running. You’ll apply networking and OS fundamentals to real infrastructure, automating workflows with Python and Bash to streamline critical processes while strengthening system security through DevSecOps. By building and maintaining robust, low-level software, you ensure the foundational stability of our infrastructure, enabling Cisco to deliver reliable and secure connectivity.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (Associate's or Bachelor's).
- Qualifying education should be in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
- Expected to continue enrollment in degree program following completion of the internship.
- Proficient in C with experience in embedded Linux, demonstrated through at least one academic, personal, or professional project.
- Working knowledge of at least two of: operating systems, routing, or networking fundamentals.
- Hands-on experience with at least one automation or scripting tool: Python, Bash, or Jenkins.
- Exposure to DevSecOps workflows or security-focused development practices.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Exposure to cybersecurity fundamentals or security protocols.
- Familiarity with FPGA development.
- Understanding of at least two of: signal integrity, power integrity, or PCB design.
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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:
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 of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to 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:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$44,000.00 - $185,000.00
- 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.
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Get Access To All JobsEmbedded Software Engineer CPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Embedded Software Engineer role qualify for CPT?
Yes, if the work is integral to your degree program and your DSO approves it. Roles involving firmware development, RTOS programming, or hardware-software integration map directly to ECE and CS curricula. You'll need a written job offer and a course enrollment that formally incorporates the work experience before your DSO can authorize CPT.
Does a CPT employer need to file anything with USCIS?
No. CPT authorization comes entirely from your school, not USCIS. Your DSO updates your I-20 to reflect the employer, job title, and authorized dates. The employer doesn't file a petition or pay any government fees, which makes CPT significantly faster to set up than H-1B visa or OPT STEM extension filings.
How do I find embedded engineering employers who regularly hire F-1 students on CPT?
Migrate Mate shows employers with LCA filing history for engineering and software roles, which indicates companies that routinely work with international students. Sectors with strong CPT placement for embedded roles include automotive (ADAS and infotainment), industrial IoT, defense electronics, and semiconductor firms running structured co-op programs.
Will doing full-time CPT affect my OPT eligibility after graduation?
It can. Twelve months or more of full-time CPT makes you ineligible for OPT. Part-time CPT, defined as 20 hours or fewer per week, does not count toward that limit regardless of total duration. If you're planning a multi-semester embedded co-op, track your authorized hours carefully and discuss the OPT impact with your DSO before each renewal.
Can I do CPT at a startup without a formal internship program?
Yes, as long as the employer provides a written offer letter describing your duties, and your DSO confirms the role qualifies academically. Startups in robotics, IoT, and edge computing frequently offer embedded engineering roles without formal internship programs. Your school's CPT criteria matter more than the employer's internal program structure.