Firmware Engineer II (Co-op) - United States

Cisco; Maynard (MA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco's Acacia team in Maynard, MA is offering an internship in hardware firmware. You will design and validate firmware for bring-up of ultra-high data rate electro-optical modules and develop infrastructure code for evaluation sub-systems.

You will collaborate with hardware and software teams, troubleshoot issues, and gain hands-on experience across RTOS, drivers, and Linux-based environments. The program emphasizes learning, mentorship, and contributing to meaningful connectivity advances.

Qualifications

• Experience with embedded firmware development in academic, project, or professional settings.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and Python for testing and automation.
• Currently enrolled in a degree program and planning to continue after internship.

Responsibilities

• Design and validate firmware for the bring-up of electro-optical modules.
• Develop infrastructure code for product evaluation sub-systems.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate components.
• Troubleshoot issues to ensure stability and performance.

Skills

Embedded firmware

C/C++ programming

Python scripting

RTOS familiarity

Debugging hardware issues

Collaboration

Education

Undergraduate degree program (Associate's or Bachelor's) or Master's with internship eligibility

Tools

Git

Perforce

Job description

Meet the Team

Acacia, now part of Cisco, creates intelligent optical transceivers using advanced photonic integration for global telecommunication networks. Our Hardware team consists of enthusiastic engineers who thrive on collaboration and innovation. We are a versatile group working on cutting-edge coherent modules for data center and long-haul markets. It is an exciting environment where team members support one another to achieve the future of industry-first technological breakthroughs.

Your Impact

You will design and validate firmware components essential for the bring-up and testing of our ultra-high data rate electro-optical modules. Working in our hardware organization, you will develop the infrastructure code needed to ensure our sub-systems function reliably. This role offers you the opportunity to solve complex engineering challenges while collaborating with cross-functional manufacturing and software teams to power the future of connectivity.

In this role, you will:

• Design and validate firmware for the bring-up of electro-optical modules.
• Develop and test infrastructure code for product evaluation sub-systems.
• Collaborate with hardware and software teams to integrate system components.
• Troubleshoot technical issues to ensure product stability and performance.

Minimum Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree program (Associate's or Bachelor's) with 2 years of work experience; or
• A Master’s degree program with 0 years of work experience.
• Qualifying education should be in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• Expected to continue enrollment in degree program following completion of the internship.
• Previous experience with embedded firmware development, C/C++ programming, or assembly language in an academic, project, or professional capacity.
• Proficiency in Python scripting for hardware testing or automation tasks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of RTOS, microcontrollers, or common embedded CPU architectures.
• Experience implementing low-level device drivers such as I2C, SPI, or UART protocols.
• Familiarity with FPGA/CPLD initialization and hardware/software bring-up processes.
• Exposure to Linux-based system programming or network programming using TCP/UDP/Sockets.
• Proven ability to manage codebases using revision control systems like Git or Perforce.

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 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.

• New York City Metro Area: $44,000.00 - $185,000.00
• Non-Metro New York state & Washington state: $44,000.00 - $185,000.00
• * 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.