Cisco Meraki Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Cisco Meraki is a leader in cloud-managed networking, dedicated to simplifying powerful technology to enhance business connectivity and efficiency.

As a Software Engineer at Cisco Meraki, you will be pivotal in the development of cloud-managed solutions that facilitate networking and security across a multitude of environments. This role encompasses a variety of responsibilities, including crafting, developing, testing, maintaining, and enhancing software stacks that provide essential networking functionalities such as routing, forwarding, and SD-WAN. You will be expected to lead technical aspects of software delivery, from requirements definition to implementation and deployment, ensuring high-quality output that aligns with Meraki’s commitment to simplicity and effectiveness.

Candidates for this role should have a strong foundation in networking principles, especially in TCP/IP protocols and IPv4/IPv6 mechanics. Proficiency in C++ (especially C++11 and beyond) is essential for conducting code reviews and engaging in hands-on development. You should also possess experience in Linux environments and have a track record of mentoring junior engineers. A collaborative mindset, superb communication skills, and the ability to work across functional groups are critical traits that will help you thrive in this role.

This guide will assist you in preparing for your interview by providing insights into the core competencies and expectations for the Software Engineer position at Cisco Meraki. By understanding the nuances of the role and the company culture, you will be better equipped to demonstrate your fit and showcase your potential contributions.

The interview process for a Software Engineer position at Cisco Meraki is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the team. It typically consists of several stages, each designed to evaluate different aspects of a candidate’s qualifications and compatibility with the company’s values.

1. Initial Phone Screen

The process begins with a phone screen conducted by a recruiter. This initial conversation usually lasts around 30 minutes and focuses on your resume, background, and motivation for applying to Cisco Meraki. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the role, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of what to expect.

2. Technical Phone Interview

Following the initial screen, candidates typically participate in a technical phone interview. This session lasts about an hour and may involve coding challenges or technical questions relevant to the role. Expect to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and coding proficiency, often using languages such as C++ or Python. The interviewer may also assess your understanding of networking concepts, including TCP/IP mechanics and routing protocols.

3. Take-Home Assignment (Optional)

In some cases, candidates may be asked to complete a take-home assignment that tests their technical skills further. This could involve coding tasks or system design problems that you need to submit within a specified timeframe. This step allows candidates to showcase their abilities in a more flexible environment.

4. Virtual Onsite Interviews

Candidates who perform well in the previous rounds are typically invited to a virtual onsite interview. This stage usually consists of multiple rounds (often 3-5) with different team members, including technical interviews and behavioral assessments. The technical interviews may cover coding challenges, system design, and networking scenarios, while the behavioral interviews focus on teamwork, communication skills, and cultural fit.

5. Final Interview with Hiring Manager

The final step often involves a one-on-one interview with the hiring manager. This discussion may delve deeper into your technical expertise, leadership potential, and how you align with the company’s mission and values. The hiring manager will likely assess your ability to contribute to the team and your approach to problem-solving in a collaborative environment.

Throughout the process, candidates are encouraged to ask questions and engage with interviewers to demonstrate their interest in the role and the company.

Next, let’s explore the types of questions you might encounter during the interview process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand the Company Culture

Cisco Meraki values simplicity, collaboration, and innovation. Familiarize yourself with their mission to simplify powerful technology and how it impacts their products. During the interview, demonstrate your alignment with these values by discussing how you have contributed to simplifying processes or enhancing collaboration in your previous roles. This will show that you not only understand the company’s ethos but also embody it.

Prepare for Technical Depth

As a Software Engineer, you will be expected to have a strong grasp of networking concepts, particularly TCP/UDP mechanics, IPv4/IPv6, and routing protocols. Brush up on your knowledge of these areas, and be prepared to discuss your experience with them in detail. Expect technical questions that may require you to interpret packet captures or explain your approach to solving networking challenges. Practice coding problems that are relevant to the role, focusing on C++ and Linux environments, as these are crucial for the position.

Be Ready for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your problem-solving skills, teamwork, and leadership abilities. Prepare examples from your past experiences that highlight your ability to work collaboratively, mentor others, and handle challenges. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, ensuring you convey the impact of your actions clearly.

Clarify Expectations During Interviews

Given the feedback from previous candidates about the interview process, it’s important to clarify expectations upfront. If you are given a coding challenge, ask the interviewer how much time you have and what specific questions you need to focus on. This will help you manage your time effectively and ensure you address the most critical aspects of the task.

Engage with Your Interviewers

Interviews at Cisco Meraki can be conversational, so take the opportunity to engage with your interviewers. Ask insightful questions about the team, the projects they are working on, and the challenges they face. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. Reiterate your interest in the position and briefly mention a key point from your conversation that resonated with you. This will help you stand out and leave a positive impression.

By following these tips, you can approach your interview with confidence and demonstrate that you are not only technically proficient but also a great cultural fit for Cisco Meraki. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a software engineering interview at Cisco Meraki. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of networking concepts, as well as your experience in software development and team collaboration.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the difference between TCP and UDP?

Understanding the fundamental differences between these two protocols is crucial for any networking role.

How to Answer

Discuss the characteristics of both protocols, including reliability, connection-oriented vs. connectionless communication, and typical use cases.

Example

“TCP is a connection-oriented protocol that ensures reliable data transmission through error checking and correction, making it suitable for applications like web browsing. In contrast, UDP is connectionless and does not guarantee delivery, which makes it ideal for real-time applications like video streaming where speed is more critical than reliability.”

2. How would you interpret a packet capture?

This question assesses your practical knowledge of networking and troubleshooting.

How to Answer

Explain the tools you would use and the steps you would take to analyze the packet capture, focusing on identifying issues or understanding traffic patterns.

Example

“I would use Wireshark to analyze the packet capture. First, I would filter the traffic to focus on specific protocols or IP addresses of interest. Then, I would look for anomalies such as retransmissions or unusual traffic patterns that could indicate network issues.”

3. Describe your experience with IPv4 and IPv6.

This question gauges your familiarity with IP addressing and the transition from IPv4 to IPv6.

How to Answer

Discuss your hands-on experience with both protocols, including any challenges you faced and how you addressed them.

Example

“I have worked extensively with both IPv4 and IPv6. In a recent project, I helped transition a legacy system to support IPv6, which involved updating routing tables and ensuring compatibility with existing IPv4 systems. This experience taught me the importance of dual-stack configurations.”

4. What are some common routing protocols you have worked with?

This question tests your knowledge of networking protocols.

How to Answer

Mention specific protocols you have experience with, such as OSPF, BGP, or EIGRP, and describe their use cases.

Example

“I have worked with OSPF and BGP extensively. OSPF is great for internal routing within an organization due to its fast convergence, while BGP is essential for managing routing between different autonomous systems on the internet.”

5. Can you explain how NAT works?

This question assesses your understanding of network address translation and its applications.

How to Answer

Describe the purpose of NAT and how it functions in a network.

Example

“NAT allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address. It translates private IP addresses to a public address for outbound traffic and vice versa for inbound traffic, which helps conserve IP addresses and adds a layer of security.”

Coding and Problem Solving

1. How would you implement an LRU cache?

This question tests your coding skills and understanding of data structures.

How to Answer

Discuss the data structures you would use and the algorithmic approach to implement the LRU cache.

Example

“I would use a combination of a hash map and a doubly linked list. The hash map would allow for O(1) access to cache items, while the doubly linked list would maintain the order of usage, allowing for efficient eviction of the least recently used item.”

2. Describe a time you had to debug a complex issue in your code.

This question evaluates your problem-solving skills and persistence.

How to Answer

Share a specific example, detailing the issue, your debugging process, and the outcome.

Example

“I once encountered a memory leak in a C++ application. I used tools like Valgrind to identify the source of the leak, which turned out to be an uninitialized pointer. After fixing the issue, I implemented additional checks to prevent similar problems in the future.”

3. Can you write a function to convert an IP address to binary?

This question assesses your coding ability and understanding of IP addresses.

How to Answer

Explain your thought process and write the function, ensuring clarity and correctness.

Example

“I would split the IP address into its four octets, convert each octet to binary, and then concatenate the results. Here’s a simple implementation in Python: ‘def ip_to_binary(ip): return ‘.’.join(format(int(x), ‘08b’) for x in ip.split(‘.’))’.”

4. How do you handle version control in your projects?

This question gauges your experience with version control systems.

How to Answer

Discuss the tools you use and your approach to managing code changes.

Example

“I primarily use Git for version control. I follow a branching strategy where I create feature branches for new developments and use pull requests for code reviews. This ensures that the main branch remains stable while allowing for collaborative development.”

5. What is your experience with Agile methodologies?

This question assesses your familiarity with Agile practices.

How to Answer

Share your experience working in Agile teams and how you contributed to the process.

Example

“I have worked in Agile teams for several years, participating in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives. I find that Agile methodologies promote collaboration and adaptability, which are essential for delivering high-quality software in a fast-paced environment.”