Mechanical Engineer II (Full-Time) - United States

Cisco; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco in San Jose is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical design from concept through manufacturing. You will own details like tolerance analysis, BOM management, and packaging design, while coordinating with hardware, ECAD, test, and supplier teams to optimize cost and manufacturability.

The role emphasizes Design for Manufacturing, reliability testing, and translating concepts into robust packaging solutions for high-reliability hardware platforms.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or Bachelor's degree with relevant years of experience as specified (within 3 years for Master’s; 2 years for Bachelor's).
• Proven experience executing mechanical designs, tolerance stack-up analyses, and feasibility testing for hardware products.
• Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication, assembly, and failure/reliability testing processes.
• Basic understanding of thermal and electrical engineering principles as applied to mechanical packaging and board layout.
• Strong collaborative skills to work across cross-functional teams (Hardware, ECAD, Test Assurance) and manage single-product BOMs.

Responsibilities

• Own key aspects of product development, including detailed mechanical design, tolerance stack-up analysis, BOM management, and component assembly.
• Perform DFM optimizations, failure analysis, and reliability testing.
• Define efficient manufacturing processes that optimize product design and cost.
• Collaborate with thermal and supplier quality engineers to refine heat sink designs and enclosure solutions.

Skills

Mechanical design

Tolerance analysis

BOM management

DFM

Prototyping

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ECAD

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/17/2026

Meet the Team

We design and analyze mechanical systems, equipment, and packaging for next-generation hardware platforms. Our team conducts feasibility studies and rigorous testing on new and modified designs while directing support personnel through detailed design, prototype fabrication, and drafting documentation. Integrating thermal and electrical engineering principles into our conceptual and architectural workflows, we deliver high-reliability hardware solutions that power our connected world.

Your Impact

As a Mechanical Engineer on our team, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners—including hardware design, ECAD, test assurance, and lead engineers to drive features from design feasibility all the way through to manufacturing. You will own key aspects of product development, including detailed mechanical design, tolerance stack-up analysis, Bill of Materials (BOM) management, and component assembly. Working directly with thermal and supplier quality engineers, you will perform Design for Manufacturing (DFM) optimizations, execute failure analysis and reliability testing, and help define efficient manufacturing processes that optimize product design and cost.

Minimum Qualifications

• Meet one of the following (completed within the past 3 years or expected to be completed within the next 12 months):
• A Master's degree with 0 years of work experience; or
• A Bachelor's degree with 2 years of work experience.
• Qualifying education and work experience should be in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Proven experience executing mechanical designs, simple tolerance stack-up analyses, and feasibility testing for hardware products.
• Hands-on experience with prototype fabrication, assembly, and failure/reliability testing processes.
• Basic understanding of thermal and electrical engineering principles as applied to mechanical packaging and board layout.
• Strong collaborative skills to work across cross-functional teams (Hardware, ECAD, Test Assurance) and manage single-product BOMs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting Design for Manufacturing (DFM) reviews and implementing vendor/supplier input to optimize cost and layout.
• Familiarity working alongside thermal engineers to refine heat sink designs and enclosure solutions.
• Ability to solicit vendor proposals for budgetary evaluation while maintaining project cost guidelines.
• Demonstrated background translating conceptual designs into comprehensive packaging and drafting documentation.
• Track record of independently resolving mechanical layout and assembly challenges while escalating complex issues effectively.

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 $112,200.00 to $162,200.00 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

$112,200.00 - $186,500.00

Non-Metro New York State & Washington State

$108,400.00 - $164,500.00

• 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.