Failure Analysis Engineer I (Full-Time) United States

Cisco Systems, Inc.; Maynard (MA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Failure Analysis Engineer in Massachusetts to perform hands-on debug and failure analysis of transceiver products and optical engine components.

You will identify root causes, document findings, and contribute to customer-facing reports while collaborating with failure analysis engineers and cross-functional partners. The role focuses on improving failure analysis methods, increasing accuracy and speed, and delivering high-quality customer support in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Completion within the past 3 years, or current enrollment with expected completion within 12 months, of a certification or relevant degree program (e.g., Associates, Apprenticeship, Boot Camp, or Certification in a specialized program + 1 year of relevant experience, High School Diploma + 2 years of relevant experience) or Bachelors + 0 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in failure analysis or sustaining engineering for high bit rate coherent optical transceivers, line cards, and/or terminal equipment.
• Experience performing hands-on debug and failure analysis using electronic and optical test equipment.
• Understanding of coherent transceiver products, electronic and RF circuits, optical/RF components, and optical transmission test methodologies.
• Experience documenting technical findings and performing data analysis to determine root cause.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment while taking ownership of technical issues.

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on debug and failure analysis of transceiver products and optical engine components to identify root causes.
• Replicate customer-reported failures and document technical findings for reports.
• Collaborate across teams to improve failure analysis processes and efficiency.

Skills

Failure analysis

Debugging

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Pattern generators

Electrical spectrum analyzers

Optical spectrum analyzers

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 09/20/2026

Meet the Team

Join a team dedicated to performing failure analysis and debug of transceiver and optical engine multi-chip modules. Working closely with failure analysis engineers and cross-functional partners, the team investigates customer-reported issues, identifies root causes, and continuously improves failure analysis methods, processes, and reporting. The team's focus is on increasing the accuracy, speed, and efficiency of failure analysis while delivering a high-quality customer experience.

Your Impact

As a Failure Analysis Engineer, you will perform hands-on debug and failure analysis of transceiver products and optical engine components to identify root causes and drive corrective actions. You will replicate customer-reported failures, document technical findings, and contribute to customer-facing reports. By collaborating across teams and using data to improve failure analysis processes, you will help increase operational efficiency, reduce future failures, and enhance the quality and timeliness of customer support.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion within the past 3 years, or current enrollment with expected completion within 12 months, of a certification or relevant degree program (e.g., Associates, Apprenticeship, Boot Camp, or Certification in a specialized program + 1 year of relevant experience, High School Diploma + 2 years of relevant experience) or Bachelors + 0 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in failure analysis or sustaining engineering for high bit rate coherent optical transceivers, line cards, and/or terminal equipment.
• Experience performing hands-on debug and failure analysis using electronic and optical test equipment.
• Understanding of coherent transceiver products, electronic and RF circuits, optical/RF components, and optical transmission test methodologies.
• Experience documenting technical findings and performing data analysis to determine root cause.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment while taking ownership of technical issues.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with the application of coherent transceivers in optical networks.
• Strong failure analysis techniques at the subsystem, component, and device levels.
• Experience using oscilloscopes, pattern generators/error detectors, and electrical and optical spectrum analyzers.
• Experience using data and metrics to improve failure analysis efficiency and reporting quality.
• Strong documentation and technical reporting skills.

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 $79,200.00 to $100,400.00 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:

$88,900.00 - $129,700.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$79,200.00 - $115,400.00

* 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.