ASIC Engineering Technical Leader

Cisco Systems, Inc; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 274,000 - 393,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a senior technical leader to drive the definition, architecture, design, and productization of high-performance mixed-signal ASICs and related subsystems.

You will own DFT frameworks, guide verification strategies, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver robust, scalable solutions. Ideal candidates have a strong background in at-speed testing methods (MBIST/BISR/boundary-scan) and significant experience taking products from concept to mass

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with extensive related experience.
• Master’s or PhD preferred with strong background in ASIC/SoC verification.
• Experience owning DFT architecture from concept through mass production.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and definition for blocks, subsystems, or DFT frameworks, partnering with domain experts to solve complex, cross-functional challenges.
• Lead project-level design and champion methodology developments that can be scaled across multiple product lines.
• Create and implement robust verification strategies, establishing approaches for high-speed digital and analog blocks.
• Collaborate across cross-functional teams (library, process, PnR, Test Engineering, Operations); develop reusable designs and automated flows/scripts.
• Utilize AI and agent-based scripting for verification and debug to accelerate time-to-market.

Skills

DFT architecture

MBIST

BISR

Boundary-scan

Digital/Analog verification

AI-assisted design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

EDA tools

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 12/14/2026

Meet the Team

We are Silicon one optics. We develop optical engines (EIC and PIC) that are targeted for the high growth AI/datacenter customers.

Your impact

As a key technical leader, you will be a hands-on expert driving the definition, architecture, design, and productization of high-performance mixed-signal ASICs, subsystems, or specialized domains like DFT.

• Own the architecture and definition for blocks, subsystems, or DFT frameworks, partnering with domain experts to solve complex, cross-functional challenges.
• Lead project-level design and champion methodology developments that can be scaled seamlessly across multiple product lines.
• Create and implement robust verification strategies, establishing approaches suited for both high-speed digital and custom analog blocks.
• Collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams like library, process, PnR, Test Engineering, and Operations. Develop reusable designs and automated flows/scripts for the team. Lead technical engagements with tool vendors and IP suppliers.
• Utilize AI and agent-based script creation, verification, and debug flows to drive maximum efficiency and rapid time-to-market.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors + 12 years of related experience, or Masters + 8 years of related experience, or PhD + 5 years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience owning DFT architecture development for an SoC, guiding the product from concept through implementation and mass production.
• Experience implementing at-speed scan, MBIST, BISR, boundary-scan, and custom techniques for parametric testing of analog and mixed-signal blocks.

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:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $192,400.00 to $275,800.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation*, equity, or benefits.

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 ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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:

$214,100.00 - $356,300.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$192,400.00 - $317,200.00

* 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.