Hardware Design Engineer Technical Lead

Cisco Systems, Inc.; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 169,000 - 241,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in San Jose is seeking a Hardware Design Technical Lead for the Common Hardware Group.

You will define and develop next-gen hyperscaler switch hardware, bringing up systems and coordinating with ASIC, DFT, signal integrity, software, diagnostics and manufacturing teams. The ideal candidate will have advanced degrees with strong hands-on experience in high-speed board design, schematics, FPGA/ASIC bring-up, and lab debugging, plus excellent communication skills to liaise with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or higher in EE/CE/Telecom with 8+ years, or MS with 6+ years, or PhD with 3 years in system level development.
• Experience with common HW tech, including power, clock, memory, CPU, and various interfaces.
• Previous experience with complex high-speed board design and bring-up.
• Experience with schematics/layout, hardware bring-up, troubleshooting and system testing.
• Experience working with Software teams on system bring-up and device configuration.

Responsibilities

• Define and design the next generation Hyperscaler Switch hardware based on Silicon One and/or merchant ASIC.
• System and board level specification, schematic capture, FPGA design, ASIC/system bring-up and troubleshooting.
• Collaborate with ASIC, DFT, SI, software, Diagnostics and Manufacturing teams to resolve design issues.
• Debug and troubleshoot in labs using scopes and analyzers.
• Act as technical liaison with major component suppliers.

Skills

Hardware design leadership

System bring-up

Collaboration with software teams

Troubleshooting in labs

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or Telecommunications

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or Telecommunications

PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering + 3 years in system level development

Tools

Verilog HDL

VHDL

Schematic capture

FPGA/ASIC bring-up

Python scripting

PCIe, I2C, SPI interfaces

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 08/31/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received..

Meet the Team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco's core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, and hardware platforms - like Silicon One - are shaping the technology industry. We're a global team of creative experts, bringing our unique backgrounds and bold ideas to push boundaries and help each other grow. Because full product development - from design to qualification to production - is within our team, we're able to think differently, experiment more, and work quickly. Join us to power the future of the digital world.

Your Impact

Hardware design technical lead is a key member of the Cisco Purpose Built Switch hardware team.

• Define and design the next generation Hyperscaler Switch hardware based on Silicon One and/or merchant ASIC.

• Responsible for system and board level specification, schematic capture, FPGA design, ASIC/System level bring up and troubleshooting.

• The individual is expected to bring up the system to work with multiple groups including ASIC, DFT, Signal Integrity, software, Diagnostics and Manufacturing team to resolve any design issues.

• Debug and troubleshoot in labs using scopes and analyzers

• Act as technical liaison with major component Suppliers for the product

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or Telecommunications and 8+ years of experience, or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or Telecommunications and 6+ years of experience, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering + 3 years in system level development.

• Prior experience with common HW technology, including power, clock, memory, CPU, and variety of system interfaces.

• Previous experience with complex high-speed board design and board bring-up.

• Prior experience with schematics/layout, Hardware bring-up, trouble-shooting, system level testing.

• Experience with working with Software team on system bring-up and porting, devices configuration (registers level).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with schematics, PCB and Verilog HDL/VHDL design

• Experience on the scripts (Python, Tcl, etc.)

• Experience with lab bring up and design validation of products

• Knowledge on the Ethernet protocol is a plus

• Experience with access switch Ethernet interfaces: gigabit, multi gigabit, 10 gigabit.

• Experience with high speed Ethernet interfaces: 25G, 100G, 400G, 800G.

• Experience with DRAM, CPU subcomplex and control interfaces such as PCIe, I2C, SPI, MDC/MDIO

• Self-motivation, teamwork and strong communication skills are essential.

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 $168,800.00 to $241,200.00 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:

$168,800.00 - $277,400.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$148,800.00 - $248,200.00

* 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.