Senior Hardware Engineering Program Manager

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

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in San Jose, CA is seeking a Hardware Engineering Program Manager to orchestrate end-to-end lifecycle of next-generation hardware platforms, ensuring budget alignment and cross-functional execution.

You will lead large-scale, high-risk PCBAs with multiple interdependencies, coordinate across hardware, software, product, and operations, and mentor PM staff while applying CI methodologies and strategic problem solving.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 8+ years of experience, or a Master’s with 6+ years, or PhD with 3+ years in technical program management.
• Experience leading end-to-end hardware programs with multi-functional interdependencies.
• Experience defining program plans, schedules, budgets, and monitoring critical paths.

Responsibilities

• Lead program management of large-scale hardware products with interdependencies.
• Coordinate hardware, software, product management, service and operations teams.
• Drive problem solving by interpreting business trends to improve delivery.
• Monitor health, manage critical paths and risk mitigation.
• Oversee budget, resources, and financial rigor; align with business plans.
• Provide executive updates and strategic recommendations.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Jira

Confluence

MS Project

AI tools

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Master’s degree in engineering

PhD (optional)

Tools

Jira

Confluence

MS Project

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 10/16/2026

This is an onsite position at the San Jose, CA location.

Meet the team

Our Systems and Optics Hardware PMO team serves as the engine for Cisco’s hardware portfolio, redefining complex strategies into predictable, high-quality delivery through multi-functional governance and operational excellence. As a Hardware Engineering Program Manager, you will act as the primary orchestrator for next-generation platforms, driving the end-to-end product lifecycle while ensuring financial rigor and seamless alignment across our engineering and business partners.

Your Impact

• Lead program management of large-scale, high-risk hardware products for Cisco with multiple interdependencies across functions, ensuring successful end-to-end delivery from concept to customer release.

• Orchestrate multi-functional activities by aligning hardware and software engineering, product management, service, customer documentation and operations teams to ensure cohesive, high-quality execution.

• Drive complex problem-solving by interpreting current business trends to identify and implement innovative, strategic solutions for program delivery.

• Monitor program health, lead critical path roadmaps, risk mitigation and necessary course corrections.

• Lead all aspects of budget preparations, resource allocation, and financial rigor to ensure effective utilization and alignment to business plans

• Influence and persuade partners at all levels, providing executive-level status updates and strategic recommendations for maintaining relationships.

• Provide technical expertise and mentorship to engineering project management staff, fostering process improvements and the implementation of continuous integration methodologies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 8+ years of experience or a master’s degree in engineering with 6+ years of experience in technical program management, or PhD with 3+ years of experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading end-to-end, complex hardware programs consisting of multiple PCBAs with moderate to high risk and multi-functional interdependencies.

• Experience in defining and delivering program plans, schedules, and budgets, including monitoring critical path activities and resource allocation.

• Experience in project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, MS Project) to track program metrics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience using AI tools, e.g. ChatGPT, Codex, Claude to improve the program management process.

• Expertise in Design Verification Testing (DVT) processes within complex hardware development lifecycles.

• Extensive knowledge of hardware manufacturing environments, production workflows, and supply chain operations.

• Strategic background in supply chain operations or procurement for large-scale hardware programs.

• Proven ability to communicate difficult concepts and influence outcomes across internal and external partner groups.

• Demonstrated expertise with leading multi-functional dependencies in fast-paced engineering environments

• Familiarity with demonstrating advanced analytical tools and AI-enabled methodologies to optimize program management efficiency.

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.