Enterprise Hardware Engineering Technical Lead

Cisco Systems, Inc.; North Carolina; On-site; USD 139,200 - 201,400; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a seasoned HW Board and System Design Engineer for its Edge and Access routing products.

You will handle hardware architecture, bring-up, validation, and qualification, leading cross-functional teams to production readiness. The role requires 8+ years in hardware board design (or 6+ years with a Master's), with hands-on experience in x86/ARM, DDR4/5, PCIe, SATA, USB, and Cadence Allegro.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering with 6+/- years in hardware board design
• Experience bringing a design from concept to production
• Experience with x86 and/or ARM processors
• Experience with DDR4/DDR5 memory, PCIe, SATA, USB
• Proficient in schematic capture tools like Cadence Allegro

Responsibilities

• Participate in and contribute to system hardware design
• Contribute to hardware specification, design, development, and test
• Drive product from concept to production
• Work under department strategy and direction
• Independently resolve and develop approaches to solutions
• Collaborate with software, diagnostics, manufacturing, marketing, EDVT, and MDVT test teams

Skills

Hardware design

Board design

x86 processors

ARM processors

DDR4/DDR5 memory

PCIe/SATA/USB

Schematic capture Cadence Allegro

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Cadence Allegro Design Entry HDL (Concept HDL)

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.

Meet the Team:

The Enterprise Routing organization designs and develops Cisco's Edge and Access routing products. We architect the next generation of routing technology using both internally developed and commercially available silicon. The team designs, implements, and delivers industry leading routing products. You will be part of the dynamic and passionate team working on innovative projects.

Your Impact:

The HW Board and System Design engineer for Cisco’s Edge and Access routing products is responsible for hardware board design activities with a strong focus on test, qualification, and readiness for production. This role spans all phases of hardware development, from architecture and design through bring-up, validation, and qualification, combining deep technical expertise with leadership and cross-functional coordination.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Participate and contribute to the system hardware design.

• Contribute to hardware specification, design, development, and test.

• Drive product from concept to production.

• Work under department strategy and direction.

• Independently resolve and develop approaches to solutions.

• Work closely with software, diagnostics, manufacturing, marketing, EDVT, and MDVT test teams throughout the development process.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with 8+ years of experience in hardware board design and development, or a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with 6+ years of experience in hardware board design and development.

• Prior experience of taking a design from concept to production.

• Prior experience in designing with x86 and/or ARM processors.

• Prior experience in designing with DDR4/DDR5 memory, PCIe, SATA, USB.

• Experience in schematic capture tools like Cadence Allegro Design Entry HDL (Concept HDL).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in using circuit simulation tools like HyperLynx, SPICE is a plus.

• Experience designing Xilinx or Intel/Altera FPGAs or CPLDs using Verilog.

• Prior experience in high-speed board design/signal integrity and power distribution is critical.

• Prior experience in designing Ethernet (10/100/1000Mbps, 10GE, 25GE, 40GE, 100GE) and serial interfaces like I2C, SPI, UART, RS232, etc.

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 $139,200.00 to $201,400.00 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:

$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.