Senior Hardware Board Design Engineer - High-Speed

Cisco Systems; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems is seeking a Senior Hardware Board Design Engineer in the United States to own complex board-level subsystems from hardware definition through qualification and release. You will collaborate with ASIC, power, signal integrity, and software teams to solve challenging problems and ensure reliable hardware.

The role focuses on translating requirements into board architecture, designing high-speed circuits, and leading bring-up and debugging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field plus 7 years of related experience; or Master’s degree plus 4 years; or Ph.D. plus 1 year; or equivalent per Cisco’s criteria.
• Experience taking complex hardware products through manufacturing release.
• Experience with board-level design, schematic capture, lab bring-up, validation, and root-cause analysis.
• Experience with high-speed digital design and signal integrity fundamentals (controlled impedance, crosstalk, termination, decoupling).

Responsibilities

• Translate system requirements into board-level architecture, schematics, constraints, and verification plans.
• Design complex digital, analog, and mixed-signal circuits using schematic-capture and PCB-design tools.
• Define high-speed routing strategies, stack-up requirements, and design constraints for multi-gigabit interfaces.
• Develop power-delivery and distribution solutions for high-current, low-voltage systems.
• Lead board bring-up, validation, and systematic debug using oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, TDRs, VNAs, etc.
• Lead design reviews and mentor junior engineers; collaborate with ASIC, PCB layout, software, mechanical, and supplier teams.

Skills

Board-level design

Schematic capture

High-speed design

Signal integrity

Power integrity

Diagnosis/root-cause analysis

Mentoring engineers

ASIC/FPGA experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

Ph.D. in related field

Tools

Cadence Concept/Design Entry

Allegro

EDA tools

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 12/17/2026

Meet the Team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, power ing Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless product s 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, bring ing our unique backgrounds and bold ideas to push boundaries and help each other grow. Because full product development—from design to qualification to product ion 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.

Cisco Silicon One is the only unifying silicon architecture in the market that enables customers to deploy the best‑of‑breed silicon from Top of Rack (TOR) switch s through web‑scale data centers and across service providers, enterprise networks, and data centers with a fully unified routing and switching portfolio. Come join us and take part in shaping Cisco's ground‑breaking solutions by designing, developing, and testing some of the most complex ASIC s being developed in the industry.

The Cisco Service Provider Routing Hardware Engineering team develops next-generation hardware by adhering to IEEE standards and industry best practices. Our engineers drive innovation across the full product lifecycle, serving as IP architects, creators, and solution integrators who manage products from concept to product ion.

We design a new class of high‑performance router s for the Internet of the future: Cisco 8000 Series router s. These cloud‑enhanced systems are powered by Cisco Silicon One ASIC s and deliver the scale, performance, and efficiency required by critical infrastructure. You will collaborate with board design , ASIC , signal integrity, power , software, mechanical, thermal , manufacturing , systems, and supplier teams to define, design , validate , and release high‑performance networking product s.

Your Impact

As a Senior Hardware Board Design Engineer, you will independently own complex board‑level subsystems or complete products from hardware definition through qualification and manufacturing release. You will work closely with ASIC, signal integrity, power, software, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and supplier teams to solve difficult technical problems and deliver reliable hardware.

• Translate system requirements into board‑level architecture, schematics, constraints, and verification plans.
• Design complex digital, analog, and mixed‑signal circuits using schematic‑capture and PCB‑design tools.
• Define high‑speed routing strategies, stack‑up requirements, and design constraints for multi‑gigabit interfaces.
• Develop power‑delivery and power‑distribution solutions for high‑current, low‑voltage systems.
• Lead board bring‑up, validation, and systematic debug using oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, TDRs, VNAs, and other laboratory equipment.
• Analyze signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC, thermal, and manufacturing risks and drive them to closure.
• Lead design reviews and provide technical guidance to junior and mid‑level engineers.
• Collaborate with ASIC teams, PCB layout, software, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing operations, and external suppliers.
• Drive designs through qualification, documentation, and product release.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field plus 7 years of related experience; or Master’s degree plus 4 years of related experience; or Ph.D. plus 1 year of related experience; or equivalent related experience, consistent with Cisco’s Grade 10 leveling criteria.
• Previous experience taking complex hardware products through manufacturing release.
• Previous experience with board‑level design, schematic capture, laboratory bring‑up, validation, and root‑cause analysis.
• Experience with high‑speed digital design and signal integrity fundamentals, including controlled impedance, crosstalk, termination, and decoupling.

Preferred Qualifications

• Methodical and highly analytical approach to problem solving, with the ability to break down complex issues, evaluate evidence, and document clear conclusions and next steps.
• Experience with networking, server, computer, or high‑performance embedded systems.
• Experience with Ethernet, PCIe, DDR4/DDR5, SerDes, MDIO, SPI, I2C, or similar interfaces.
• Experience with Cadence Concept/Design Entry, Allegro, or comparable EDA tools.
• Experience with SI/PI or electromagnetic simulation tools such as HyperLynx, ANSYS, or Keysight ADS.
• Experience with multi‑phase VRMs, POL converters, PDN target impedance, thermal management, or EMI/EMC mitigation.
• Experience with ASIC, FPGA, network processor, or high‑speed memory support circuitry.
• Experience mentoring engineers and improving design methods, quality, or release processes.
• Proven ability to work independently on ambiguous problems and communicate technical decisions clearly.

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 $154,900.00 to $225,300.00 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:

$154,900.00 - $259,100.00

Non‑Metro New York state & Washington state:

$136,500.00 - $228,300.00

• 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.

Cisco is an Affirative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.