Hardware Engineer - Board Design | 5 - 8 yrs

Cisco Systems, Inc; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc in Bengaluru, India, seeks an experienced hardware development engineer to join the Common Hardware Group, focusing on server/network hardware with SERDES and high-speed interfaces.

You will work with ASIC/FPGA and software teams on bring-up, qualification, debugging in the lab, and sustaining products across the lifecycle. The role emphasizes signal integrity, DDR5/SSD memory, and hands-on board design using Cadence tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's in Electrical or Electronics Engineering.
• 5–8 years in system-level hardware development, preferably in server/network domains.
• Experience with Ethernet SERDES >25G and high-speed design.
• Strong knowledge of PCIe, MDIO, SPI, I2C interfaces.
• Experience with DDR5 and SSD memory devices.
• Hands-on board design and use of Cadence Concept/Allegro.
• Hardware bring-up, design validation, and field issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Capture schematics using Cadence/Allegro.
• Collaborate with ASIC/FPGA and software teams for hardware bring-up.
• Support product qualification and lab debugging.
• Analyze system logs and troubleshoot field issues.
• Assist cross-functional teams with sustaining hardware.

Skills

Ethernet high-speed SERDES

X86 architecture

PCIe/MDIO/SPI/I2C

DDR5 and SSD memory

Board design & CAD tools

Hardware bring-up & validation

Troubleshooting & Failure Analysis

Education

Bachelor's / Master’s in Electrical or Electronics Engineering

Tools

Cadence Concept

Cadence Allegro

Oscilloscope & SI tooling

Job description

Meet the Team

We are part of Cisco’s Common Hardware Group, specializing in hardware system development for Service Provider routers. Our team focuses on delivering high-quality, power-efficient hardware using advanced SERDES technology at industry-leading bit rates. We manage the entire hardware lifecycle—from definition and design to qualification, release, and sustaining—collaborating with internal teams and vendors to address complex challenges.

Your Impact

• Capture schematics using Cadence/Allegro
• Collaborate with ASIC, FPGA, and Software teams for hardware bring-up
• Support for product qualification
• Debug issues in the lab and analyse system logs
• Support cross-functional teams for product sustaining

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors/master’s in Electrical or Electronics Engineering
• 5-8 years’ experience in system level development preferably in the server/computer/network industry
• Experience in Ethernet, high speed SERDES (>25G) interfaces, high speed design and signal integrity
• Experience in X86 architecture, and a very good understanding of control interfaces such as PCIe, MDIO, SPI, I2C
• Experience in designing with DDR5 and SSD memory devices
• Hands on board design knowledge, familiar with design tools including Cadence Concept and Allegro
• Experience with hardware bring up and design validation of products
• Prior experience with shipping products in troubleshooting field issues and Failure Analysis

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge on the signal integrity and system thermal design
• Basic scripting skill for test automation
• Good English written and verbal communications.

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.