Senior High-Speed Optical Hardware Test Engineer

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

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. seeks an Optical Hardware Systems Test Engineer to validate next-generation networking platforms, including switches, routers, and data center systems.

You will lead lab bring-up and validation of ultra-high-speed silicon with advanced optics, ensuring quality and performance through rigorous testing. You will develop Python/C/C++ test scripts to automate equipment control, measure BER, eye quality, and margins, and collaborate with cross-functional teams from silicon

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering, Photonics, Computer Engineering, or related technical field.
• Hands-on lab bring-up, system-level validation, and hardware testing of high-speed networking systems or electro-optic hardware.
• Strong understanding of optical transceivers, optical link budgets, high-speed SerDes (56G/112G+ PAM4), and BER testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on testing, validation, and bring-up of next-generation networking systems with ultra-high-speed silicon and optics.
• Develop and maintain Python, C/C++ test automation scripts to control lab equipment and automate workflows.
• Measure eye quality, BER, and link margins for high-speed optical links.
• Debug hardware, signal integrity, and optical link issues during prototype bring-up and system validation.
• Collaborate with ASIC architecture, SI, board design, software/diagnostics, and manufacturing teams from bring-up to production.

Skills

Lab bring-up

System-level validation

Hardware testing

High-speed SerDes (56G/112G+ PAM4)

Optical transceivers

BER testing

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering, Photonics, Computer Engineering, or related technical field

Tools

VNA

TDR

Sampling scopes

BERTs

Optical power meters

Spectrum analyzers

Job description

Cisco Systems, Inc. seeks an Optical Hardware Systems Test Engineer to validate next-generation networking platforms, including switches, routers, and data center systems.

You will lead lab bring-up and validation of ultra-high-speed silicon with advanced optics, ensuring quality and performance through rigorous testing. You will develop Python/C/C++ test scripts to automate equipment control, measure BER, eye quality, and margins, and collaborate with cross-functional teams from silicon