Accelerated Compute Hardware Engineering Technical Lead (Hybrid)

Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 191,400 - 281,400; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Hardware Engineering Technical Leader in San Jose, CA to drive system design for computing platforms within the CHG and Silicon One family.

You will lead cross-functional teams, turning concepts into production hardware and solving complex problems with strong communication and analytical skills. The role demands extensive experience in server-grade hardware, DDR/PCIe interfaces, signal integrity, and collaboration with suppliers and design partners to deliver

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s in Electrical or Computer Engineering with 10+ years of system-level development, or a Master’s with 7+ years, or a PhD with 3+ years.
• Experience in hardware designs featuring x86 or ARM CPUs.
• Experience addressing high-speed design and signal integrity, and power distribution techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead system design on computing system products.
• Drive computing products from concept to production.
• Address challenging technical problems and issues.
• Interact with Cross-functional teams for technical discussions.
• Act as technical liaison for key suppliers for product and technical perspectives.
• Work with and manage JDMs for server products development.

Skills

x86/ARM CPUs

High-speed design

Signal integrity

Power distribution

Education

Bachelor's / Master's / PhD in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Cadence Concept

Cadence Allegro

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 09/30/2026.

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

This Hardware Engineering position requires that you live within commuting distance of our San Jose, CA office and commute to the office 4 days per week.

Meet the Team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, and hardware platforms—like Silicon One—are shaping the technology industry. We\'re a global team of creative experts, bringing our unique backgrounds and bold ideas to push boundaries and help each other grow. Because full product development—from design to qualification to production—is within our team, we’re able to think differently, experiment more, and work quickly. Join us to power the future of the digital world.

Cisco Silicon One (#CiscoSiliconOne) is a business organization with a long track record of building complex and high-performance Silicon ASICs. Our silicon devices drive the world’s most complex networks and carry over 90% of IP traffic. Cisco Silicon One is the only unifying silicon architecture in the market that enables customers to deploy the best-of-breed silicon from Top of Rack (TOR) switches all the way through web scale data centers and across service provider, enterprise networks, and data centers with a fully unified routing and switching portfolio.

The Computing Systems Products Group leverages the innovative Unified Computing Systems architecture to enable a fully unified data center. Our team architects, designs, implements, and delivers industry-leading computing system products that integrate compute, storage, network, visualization, and management into a single platform.

Your Impact

In this highly visible role as Hardware Engineering Technical Leader, you will be part of a dynamic and passionate team working on innovative projects. You are a creative and skilled technical professional who excels at solving complex problems. As a passionate innovator and self-starter, you turn strategic visions into reality. With strong communication and analytical abilities, you collaborate effectively by listening, finding common ground, and working as a team to find the best product solutions.

• Lead system design on computing system products

• Drive computing products from concept to production

• Address challenging technical problems and issues

• Interact with Cross-functional teams for technical discussions

• Act as technical liaison for key suppliers for the product and technical perspectives

• Work with and manage JDMs for server products development

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering and 10+ years of system level development experience, or Master\'s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering and 7+ years of system level development experience, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering and 3+ years of system level development experience.

• Experience in hardware designs with x86 or ARM CPUs

• Experience with high-speed design signal integrity issues, power distribution techniques

Preferred Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in system level development in the server/computer/network/storage industry

• Ability to interface with other disciplines, including software, mechanical and signal integrity

• Skilled in articulating ideas and technical concepts to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.

• Experience with High Speed Network Interfaces (10G/25G/100G/400G)

• Experience with PCIe Gen5/Gen6 adaptors and switches

• Experience designing systems with DDR4/DDR5 DIMMs

• Hands on board design knowledge, familiar with design tools such as Cadence Concept, and Allegro

• Experience with shipping products

• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

• Ability to travel 5%-10% of the year

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 $191,400.00 to $281,400.00 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:

$191,400.00 - $323,600.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$176,100.00 - $287,900.00

* 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.