Hardware Engineering Technical Leader

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with match

Paid parental leave

Paid time off

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Hardware Design Lead to drive the next generation of hyperscaler switch hardware based on Silicon One or merchant ASIC.

You will own system- and board-level specifications, engage with ASIC/DFT/SI/software/diagnostics/manufacturing teams, and bring up complex high-speed boards to working condition in lab environments. The role requires deep experience in high-speed PCB design, schematics/layout, and collaboration with software teams for porting and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Telecommunications with 8+ years experience, or Master’s with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years in system-level development.
• Experience with HW technology including power, clock, memory, CPU, and various interfaces.
• Experience with complex high-speed board design and Bring-up.
• Proficiency in schematics/layout, hardware bring-up, troubleshooting and system-level testing.
• Experience collaborating with software teams on system bring-up and registers-level device configuration.

Responsibilities

• Lead hardware design for Cisco hyperscaler switches based on Silicon One or merchant ASIC.
• Define and design next-generation hardware platforms, including system and board specifications, schematics, and FPGA/ASIC bring-up.
• Collaborate with ASIC, DFT, SI, software, diagnostics, and manufacturing groups to resolve design issues.
• Debug and troubleshoot in lab environments using scopes and analyzers.
• Serve as a technical liaison with major component suppliers for the product.

Skills

Hardware design

High-speed PCB

Schematic layout

Board bring-up

System bring-up

Software integration

Troubleshooting

DFT liaison

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/CE/Telecommunications

Master's degree in EE/CE/Telecommunications

PhD in EE/CE

Tools

Verilog HDL

VHDL design

Python scripting

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 12/23/2026

Meet the Team

The CommonHardwareGroup (CHG) creates innovativehardwareplatforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s coreSwitching, Routing, andWirelessproducts for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, andhardwareplatforms—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 topowerthe future of the digital world.

Your Impact

• Hardwaredesign technical lead is a key member of the Cisco Purpose BuiltSwitchhardwareteam.
• Define and design the next generation HyperscalerSwitchhardwarebased on Silicon One and/or merchant ASIC.
• Responsible for system and board level specification, schematic capture,FPGAdesign, ASIC/System levelbringup and troubleshooting.
• The individual is expected tobringup the system to work with multiple groups including ASIC, DFT, Signal Integrity, software,Diagnostics and Manufacturing team to resolve any design issues.
• Debugand 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, includingpower,clock,memory,CPU, and variety of system interfaces.
• Previous experience with complex high-speedboard design and boardbring-up.
• Prior experience withschematics/layout,Hardwarebring-up,trouble-shooting, system leveltesting.
• Experience with working with Software team on systembring-up and porting, devices configuration (registers level).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience withschematics,PCBandVerilogHDL/VHDL design
• Experience on the scripts (Python, Tcl, etc.)
• Experience with labbringup and designvalidationof products
• Knowledge on theEthernetprotocolis a plus
• Experience with accessswitchEthernetinterfaces: gigabit, multi gigabit, 10 gigabit.
• Experience with highspeedEthernetinterfaces: 25G, 100G, 400G, 800G.
• Experience with DRAM,CPUsubcomplex and control interfaces such asPCIe,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 $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.