Senior ASIC Engineer - Post Silicon Validation

Cisco; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a Senior ASIC Validation Engineer to join the Silicon One team. You will drive post-silicon validation, bring-up, and debugging across ASICs, coordinating with RTL, firmware, and test teams to ensure robust silicon readiness.

Requires strong C, Python scripting, and lab instrumentation experience. You will work on pre- and post-silicon activities, with opportunities to influence firmware workarounds and architecture decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Electrical or Computer Engineering; 7+ years' experience, or advanced degrees with reduced experience.
• Experience in post-silicon validation, bring-up, and debug with ASICs.
• Experience in early silicon bring-up, debug, and validation.
• Experience bringing up standard peripheral interfaces (I2C, SPI, JTAG) and protocols (PCIe, Ethernet).
• Fluency in C, Python, and scripting for validation automation.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute Silicon Bring-up infrastructure including system boot and power-on.
• Collaborate with design, verification, and board teams to root-cause issues.
• Prepare validation test plans and run functional/performance tests at IP/subsystem/full-chip level.
• Extend post-silicon validation infrastructure, automation, and regression suites.
• Apply lab instrumentation expertise as part of validation and characterization.
• Coordinate with RTL/DFT/ATE/firmware teams for smooth pre to post-silicon transitions.
• Provide feedback on test escapes, yield issues, and silicon errata for revisions.

Skills

Post-silicon validation

ASIC bring-up

PCIe

Ethernet

Firmware debugging

C programming

Python scripting

Debugging in low-level silicon

Education

B.S. Electrical or Computer Engineering

M.S. in relevant field

PhD with experience

Tools

SystemVerilog

UVM

Emulation

Oscilloscopes/Lab instruments

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 11/09/2026

Meet the Team

The Silicon One team 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 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

• Planning and setting up Silicon Bring-up infrastructure, including system boot, initialization, and Power-On of ASICs.
• Working closely with design, verification, and board teams to root-cause and resolve functional and electrical issues.
• Preparing the Validation Test plan and executing functional and performance testing targeting IP, Subsystem, and full-chip stress testing and corner case analysis.
• Developing and extending post-silicon validation infrastructure, automation, and test suites, including implementing efficient result capture, analysis, and regression frameworks.
• Applying expertise with lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, analyzers, traffic generators) as part of validation and characterization.
• Working closely with RTL, DFT, ATE, firmware, and system architecture teams to ensure a smooth transition from pre-silicon verification to post-silicon validation.
• Providing critical feedback on test escapes, yield issues, and silicon errata, influencing silicon revisions and firmware/driver workarounds.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering and 7+ years experience; a Master's degree with 4+ years of experience; or a PhD with 1+ years of experience.
• Prior experience in post-silicon validation, bring-up, and debug with ASICs.
• Prior experience in early silicon bring-up, debug, and validation.
• Prior experience bringing up standard peripheral interfaces (I2C, SPI, JTAG) and protocols (PCIe, Ethernet).
• Prior experience working with firmware, bootloaders, and low-level silicon debug environments; fluency in C, Python, and scripting for validation automation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with memory subsystems (HBM, DDR).
• Electrical and thermal performance characterization activities.
• System Verilog/UVM-based verification and emulation-based verification.

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 $167,700.00 to $245,200.00 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 Cisc