ASIC DFT Engineer II Full Time - United States

Cisco Systems, Inc; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking an ASIC Design for Test Engineer in the Silicon One group in California. The role focuses on design-for-test (DFT) for recent silicon, collaborating with frontend RTL, backend physical design, and verification teams to drive test requirements early in the design cycle.

You will implement DFT features for ATE and in-system test, develop automation scripts, validate test timing, and use ATPG/EDA tools to analyze patterns across the full silicon flow.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in ASIC Engineering or related field (0 years experience).
• Bachelor's degree with 2 years of work experience.
• Foundational understanding of JTAG, scan architectures, and BIST (memory BIST, boundary scan).
• Familiarity with EDA and ATPG tools; scripting in Python, Tcl, or Perl; gate-level simulations and VCS.

Responsibilities

• Implement the Hardware Design-for-Test (DFT) features that support ATE, in-system test, debug, and diagnostics needs of the designs.
• Create and enhance automation scripts to improve implementation robustness and efficiency.
• Work closely with the Design, Design Verification, and Physical Design teams to enable the integration and validation of the Test logic in all phases of the implementation and post silicon validation flows.
• Collaborate with team members to validate test timing and logic equivalency of designs using SystemVerilog.
• Utilize ATPG and EDA tools (TestMax, Tetramax, Tessent, PrimeTime) for test pattern generation and analysis.

Skills

SystemVerilog

ATPG

Python

Tcl

Perl

VCS

Education

Master's degree in ASIC Engineering or related field

Bachelor's degree with 2 years of work experience

Tools

TestMax

Tetramax

Tessent

PrimeTime

Job description

Meet the Team

The Silicon One team 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 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.

Your Impact

You will be in the Silicon One development organization as an ASIC Design for Test Engineer with a primary focus on Design-for-Test. You will work with frontend RTL teams, backend Physical Design teams to understand chip architecture and drive DFT requirements early in the design cycle.

• Implement the Hardware Design-for-Test (DFT) features that support ATE, in-system test, debug, and diagnostics needs of the designs.
• Create and enhance automation scripts to improve implementation robustness and efficiency.
• Work closely with the Design, Design Verification, and Physical Design teams to enable the integration and validation of the Test logic in all phases of the implementation and post silicon validation flows.
• Collaborate with team members to validate test timing and logic equivalency of designs using SystemVerilog.
• Utilize ATPG and EDA tools (TestMax, Tetramax, Tessent, PrimeTime) for test pattern generation and analysis.

Minimum Qualifications

Meet one of the following (completed within the past 3 years or expected to be completed within the next 12 months):

• A Master's degree with 0 years of work experience; or
• A Bachelor's degree with 2 years of work experience.

Qualifying education and work experience should be in ASIC Engineering or a related field. Foundational understanding or academic/internship exposure to JTAG protocols, scan architectures, and BIST (Built-In Self-Test, including memory BIST and boundary scan). Familiarity or introductory hands‑on exposure to EDA and ATPG tools along with scripting or coding skills in Python, Tcl, or Perl. Experience working with gate‑level simulations and debugging using simulators like VCS.

Preferred Qualifications

• Practical experience or strong coursework in verification skills, including SystemVerilog, logic equivalency checking, and test‑timing validation.
• Understanding of basic VLSI circuit physical behaviours in silicon (such as electromigration and temperature/voltage variation effects) and familiarity with basic timing concepts (setup/hold times, metastability).
• Exposure to post‑silicon validation using DFT patterns and Test Static Timing Analysis.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with frontend RTL, backend physical design, and verification teams.

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:

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 of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to 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.

Full salary ranges

• New York City Metro Area: $125,700.00 - $203,100.00
• Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $111,700.00 - $180,800.00
• * 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.

Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.