Principal Software Engineer Interview Experience - United States
March 24, 2022
Positive ExperienceGot Offer
Process
Very professional.
Covering topics pertinent to the role, with a focus on system architecture and design, along with good coding skills.
Also covered soft skills and leadership qualities to drive technical initiatives.
Questions
How would you design for quality?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 2 interview experiences for the Cisco Principal Software Engineer role in United States.
Success Rate
50%
Pass Rate
Cisco's interview process for their Principal Software Engineer roles in the United States is fairly selective, failing a large portion of engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Positive50%
Neutral0%
Negative50%
Candidates reported having mixed feelings for Cisco's Principal Software Engineer interview process in United States.
Cisco Work Experiences
4.0
Good Balance, Lacking Innovation
Principal Software Engineer • Current Employee
San Jose, California, United States
September 4, 2025
Pros: Good work-life balance and good technologies.
Cons: Some teams are saturated, and there are not many innovative projects.
2.0
Decent Pay, Too Much Politics
Principal Software Engineer • Former Employee
San Jose, California, United States
January 16, 2025
Pros: Decent pay and work/life balance.
Cons: Too much politics.
Clueless management.
Outsourced jobs affect product quality.
No new innovation.
3.0
Good retirement place
Principal Software Engineer • Former Employee
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
December 29, 2024
Pros: Stay long, play well, and retire.
Cons: Playing well for long is hard.
- 4.0Good Balance, Lacking InnovationPrincipal Software Engineer • Current EmployeeSan Jose, California, United StatesSeptember 4, 2025Pros: Good work-life balance and good technologies.Cons: Some teams are saturated, and there are not many innovative projects.
- 2.0Decent Pay, Too Much PoliticsPrincipal Software Engineer • Former EmployeeSan Jose, California, United StatesJanuary 16, 2025Pros: Decent pay and work/life balance.Cons: Too much politics. Clueless management. Outsourced jobs affect product quality. No new innovation.
- 3.0Good retirement placePrincipal Software Engineer • Former EmployeeBengaluru, Karnataka, IndiaDecember 29, 2024Pros: Stay long, play well, and retire.Cons: Playing well for long is hard.
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