Senior Hardware Design Engineer – Security Appliances

Cisco; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 155,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with Cisco match

Paid parental leave

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a Senior Hardware Design Engineer in California to lead end-to-end hardware development for next-generation firewall appliances. You will own architecture, circuit design, PCB layouts, and rigorous validation while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with global teams.

The role emphasizes autonomous leadership, strong problem-solving, and the ability to drive innovations in high-speed security hardware, with a competitive compensation package and Cisco benefits.

Qualifications

• 4+ years with a Masters’ degree or 7+ years with a Bachelors’ degree in hardware design.
• Experience taking complex hardware products from concept to production.
• Experience with Cadence Allegro/Concept, Mentor Graphics Xpedition, etc.

Responsibilities

• Lead the hardware development lifecycle for complex, high-performance security appliances.
• Architect and drive complex circuit designs, schematics, and PCB layouts.
• Define and execute comprehensive DVT strategies for regulatory and performance specs.
• Serve as the primary technical authority for root-cause analysis of hardware issues.
• Collaborate across hardware, software, BIOS, and manufacturing teams.
• Drive design-methodology improvements and rigorous design reviews to mitigate risk.
• Provide mentorship to junior engineers and foster engineering excellence.
• Integrate AI-driven design, simulation, and diagnostic tools to streamline cycles.

Skills

Technical Leadership

Design Ownership

System-Level Validation

Advanced Troubleshooting

Strategic Collaboration

Process & Quality

Mentorship

AI-driven design tools

Education

Masters degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Cadence Allegro/Concept

Mentor Graphics Xpedition

Job description

Cisco is seeking a Senior Hardware Design Engineer in California to lead end-to-end hardware development for next-generation firewall appliances. You will own architecture, circuit design, PCB layouts, and rigorous validation while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with global teams.

The role emphasizes autonomous leadership, strong problem-solving, and the ability to drive innovations in high-speed security hardware, with a competitive compensation package and Cisco benefits.