Electrical Engineering Technical Leader (Onsite)

Cisco Systems, Inc; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 172,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in Milpitas, CA seeks an experienced Senior Hardware Engineer to design, develop, modify, and evaluate electronic parts for Cisco’s next-generation hardware products.

You will drive PCB material selection, supplier discussions, and NPI execution while leading DFx and FMEA efforts across multi-functional teams. The role requires 15+ years in hardware engineering, strong experience with Allegro/Valor and CAD tools, and a deep understanding of PCB fabrication, assembly, and

Qualifications

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 15+ years related experience in hardware engineering.
• Experience with PCB material, fabrication and assembly processes.
• Design tools proficiency (Valor, schematic, CAD, other CAE tools).
• Experience leading end-to-end PCB assembly and NPI processes.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, modify, and evaluate electronic parts and assemblies.
• Lead design and manufacturing FMEA and DfX resolution.
• Drive PCB material selection and supplier discussions.
• Collaborate with hardware and mechanical teams to address issues prior to release.
• Lead debug and board bring-up activities and component qualification.

Skills

PCB design concepts

Hardware debugging

Failure analysis

DFx awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allegro

Valor

CAD tools

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/29/2026

This is an onsite position in Milpitas, California, US.

Meet the Team

The Product Operations team within the Core Routing Business Unit (CRBU) plays a critical role in delivering Cisco’s next-generation hardware products at scale. Working at the intersection of engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing, the team ensures seamless product lifecycle execution—from new product introduction to high-volume production and customer delivery. With a strong focus on reliability, efficiency, and operational excellence, the team drives impact across global operations and enables successful product outcomes.

Your Impact

In this role, you'll design, develop, modify, and evaluate electronic parts, components, or integrated circuitry for electronic equipment, hardware systems, and other electrical engineering applications. You will determine design approaches and parameters, analyze equipment to establish operating data, conduct experimental tests, and evaluate results. Additionally, you will select components based on specifications and reliability and review vendor capabilities to support product development. If 75 percent of your time is spent performing a specific engineering function, such as analog or digital circuitry design, this role aligns with Analog (EN.EDAN) or Digital Engineering (EN.EDDI). Responsibilities include:

• Provide new product introduction support for ongoing engineering from pre-concept commit through EOL.
• Work collaboratively with partners in the development of processes and technology to support new product development.
• Drive the PCB material selection and supplier discussions with multi-functional teams.
• Manage BOM risk.
• Collaborate with the hardware and mechanical design teams to address DfX issues and ensure resolution prior to product release.
• Drive and participate in design and manufacturing FMEA.
• Provide leadership in driving product quality issues during NPI and sustaining phases.
• Lead value engineering and cost avoidance efforts pre-production; engage early with Component Engineering, T&Q, GSM, and Hardware Engineering to influence component selection, process efficiency, and design changes.
• Perform design lab experimentation, debug (proficiency continuum), DOE, and EFA.
• Assess technical capability gaps within the CM and supply chain.
• Craft, analyze, and release product documentation.
• Lead the technical lifecycle, including participation in defect reduction teams and new component qualification.
• Provide design diagnostic analysis, input, and influence.
• Lead debug and board bring-up efforts.
• Provide leadership and direction for complex issue resolution.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent plus 15+ years related experience.
• Understanding of system hardware architectures, design concepts and engineering development practices. Using various diagnostic tools, debug and trouble-shoot failing system down to board level and also boards down to component level. Characterize timing interface using scope, logic analyzers, TDR and various other equipment. Test, debug and bring-up proto boards.
• Experience with Allegro, Valor and other manufacturing tools used in the job.
• Deep understanding of PCB material, fabrication, its characteristics, influence on design, assembly process and technology.
• Experience working on a switch/router product is a plus.
• Design tools proficiency (Valor, schematic, CAD, other CAE tools).
• Experience leading and managing the end-to-end process for optical and regular Printed Circuit Board Assembly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Good written, verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Validated ability to work in a team setting and multi-task.

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 $171,600.00 to $245,000.00 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:

$171,600.00 - $281,800.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$151,300.00 - $250,900.00

* 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.