Director - Engineering, High Speed SerDes & Analog / Mixed-Signal (Silicon One Optics Group)

Cisco Systems; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 221,000 - 292,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems seeks a director-level leader to build and manage a high-performance engineering design team in the US and India for Client Optics Group. You will lead end-to-end optical transceiver development, from architecture to validation, driving AI adoption to accelerate progress.

The role emphasizes silicon photonics, mixed-signal electronics, and cross-functional collaboration with product management, operations, and layout teams.

Qualifications

• 15+ years high-speed electronics and experience including management of global teams.
• Advanced degree (Master’s/PhD) in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• Extensive experience in mixed-signal/analog electronics, DSP, optical/photonic ICs, high-speed SERDES, PI/PD, simulation and DFT.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate MRDs and determine approach, timeline and feasibility for new concepts.
• Participate in Cisco’s PLC process with CCs, ECs and PLC milestones.
• Develop and maintain program schedules and resource plans with the COG PM Team.
• Drive adoption of AI tools to enhance productivity, quality, and speed.

Skills

Leadership

AI adoption

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Global team management

Education

Master’s/PhD in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

Simulation tools

Diagnostics tools

Silicon photonics development tools

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/08/2026

Meet the Team

The Director will be responsible for setting up and leading a high-performance engineering design team in the US & India for Cisco’s Client Optics Group (COG) and driving the end-to-end execution of optical transceiver development for COG’s silicon-photonics-based transceiver chipsets and modules. Key responsibilities include architecture, development, simulation, diagnostics, bring-up, and validation of electronics IC (EIC) paired with silicon photonics ICs (PICs). A significant new focus for this role is the deployment of AI tools, when possible, to enhance productivity, quality, and development cycle times.

Your Impact

Product Planning

• Evaluating Marketing Requirements Documents (MRDs) and providing timely responses as to the approach, timeline, and feasibility for new product concepts.
• Significant participation in Cisco’s product lifecycle (PLC) process including Concept Commits (CCs), Engineering Commits (ECs) and other important PLC milestones.
• Working with the COG Program Management Team to develop and maintain accurate, detailed, and comprehensive program schedules and resource plans.
• Drive adoption of AI tools to enhance productivity, quality, and development speed.

Silicon Development

• Oversee the design, development, delivery, and documentation of electronics ICs, and chipsets by working directly with the various team leaders to guarantee execution with predictability, velocity and quality.
• Ensure the Analog Design team is following best engineering practices in the development, custom layout, simulation, validation/characterization, & documentation of the optical transceiver designs being developed.
• Apply analytics and AI/ML to stimulate edge cases, optimize test strategies, and improve test coverage, usability, debug capabilities, and fault isolation.

Collaboration & Team Development

• Partner with the cross functional teams like digital design, SI/PI, layout, Silicon characterization, Product Management, and Operations teams to ensure multi-functional alignment and successful program delivery.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, accountable, and inclusive culture, promoting guidelines and knowledge sharing across global teams.
• Mentor and develop high-performing teams, emphasizing continuous learning in silicon development and effective use of AI-assisted development tools.

Who You Are

• Experienced large-team leader who can motivate its members to successful outcomes.
• Expert in the development of mixed-signal/analog electronics and silicon photonics with a proven track record of timely delivery and first-pass success.
• Advocate for AI tools, with a history of driving adoption to accelerate development and improve productivity.
• Skilled collaborator and mentor, committed to building high-performing, innovative teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• 15+ years high-speed electronics and experience including management of global teams.
• Advanced degree (Master’s/PhD) in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field work experience with a focus on semiconductor and/or optics development.
• Extensive experience in the following disciplines:
• Mixed signal/analog electronics: Drivers, TIAs, ADCs, TX/RX Equalizers, CDRs, etc.
• Digital signal processors (DSP)
• Optical / Photonic ICs or similar: Modulators, Photo Detectors, Grating Couplers, Waveguides, etc.
• High-speed SERDES- 112Gbps, 224Gbps, 448Gbps PAM4/PAM6
• Signal & power integrity, channel modeling
• Advanced packaging including fine-pitch and low-parasitic chip-chip interconnect
• PLL / clock domains and distribution
• Power distribution
• Silicon diagnostics, test coverage, and DFT
• Electrical, optical, and co-simulation applications and tools
• Silicon validation and test equipment

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of silicon manufacturing processes, photonics development leadership and automation
• Optical transceiver silicon and module architecture definition at 200Gbps/lane, 400Gbps/lane
• Good understanding of MSA standards such as QSFP/QSFP-DD and IEEE 802.3 ethernet specifications.
• Strong communication, global team management, and executive presence.

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 $220,900.00 to $291,500.00 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 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

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:

$233,900.00 - $380,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$220,900.00 - $344,300.00

• 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.

Cisco is an Affimative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.