Senior Mechanical Engineer- (Hybrid)

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. in Austin is seeking a senior Mechanical Engineer to architect and deliver system-level mechanical designs for high-end hardware platforms.

You will lead cross-functional teams to define architecture, finalize interfaces, and resolve complex issues across modules such as boards, enclosures, and chassis. The role requires strong CAD expertise (Creo/NX/SolidWorks), GD&T proficiency, and a track record of delivering robust thermal/structural solutions for telecom-grade

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 7+ years of related experience or Master’s with 4+ years of related experience or PhD + 1 year of related experience.
• Experience in use of 3D MCAD tools (Creo/NX/SolidWorks).
• Experience in sheet metal design, plastic injection molding, diecast, heatsink, fan, interconnect and PCB layout.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design and deliver system mechanical design after specification of product requirements.
• Demonstrate originality in defining product and project level architecture.
• Significantly influence the design of interfaces between products to ensure interoperability.
• Resolve complex design issues at system level.
• Lead project team with building of a major development product coordinating with other departments.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

PhD

Tools

Creo

NX

SolidWorks

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 12/02/2026 This is a hybrid role with three days per week at Cisco’s Austin location

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

• Architect, design and deliver system mechanical design after specification of product requirements
• Demonstrate a high degree of originality and innovation in defining product and project level architecture.
• Significantly influences the design of interfaces between products to ensure interoperability.
• Resolve complex design issues at system level
• Lead project team with building of a major development product (board /enclosure /chassis) coordinating with other departments and participating in scheduling (from conception to testing).
• Able to design PCB with advanced technology and knowledge of PCB construction. (HDI, Fine Pitch Pin Fields, High IO count)
• Strong in all functional related EMC, Safety, SI and DFM, Mechanical design issues.
• Experience in interconnect solutions, such as power connectivity, high speed IO, highspeed backplane connector and cable assembly
• Champion new improved ECAD design methodologies / processes.
• Designs and develop advanced thermal/structural solutions to meet the critical performance requirements.
• Develop schedules and manage medium-to-size tasks. Proficient in geometric tolerances, and familiar with DFx (DFA/DFM etc.)
• Participate and/or take a lead role in Cisco’s Patent Program.
• Interfaces cross-functionally and leads team collaboration extending beyond work group.
• Excellent verbal skills and professional presentations
• Provide vendor with improved DFM / DFA recommendations.
• Write complete functional and design specs independently

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and 7+ years of related experience, or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and 4+ years of related experience or PhD + 1 year of related experience
• Experience in use of 3D MCAD tools (Creo/NX/SolidWorks).
• Experience with sheet metal design, plastic injection molding, diecast, heatsink, fan, interconnect and PCB layout.
• Experience in tolerance analysis, Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and statistical analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience with designing and developing electronic enclosure for fixed network system to EIA/Orv3/MGX rack platforms.
• 7+ years of working experience in enterprise electronic system design.
• Experience with thermal design for telecom equipment or equivalent.
• Experience with NX and/or Creo MCAD modeling tools and Team center PDM data management
• Experience with electronic systems, reading spec, adequate GD&T knowledge to ensure product design requirements are met.
• Experience in ECO, BOM, and Deviation processes

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 $132,800.00 to $185,100.00 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 January1st 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: NewYork City Metro Area: $154,900.00 - $259,100.00 Non-Metro NewYork 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. Cisconians power the future. We make impact as a team, innovating fast and fearlessly to create meaningful solutions on a large scale. The depth and breadth of our technology doesn't just benefit our customers – it also means limitless opportunities for us to experiment and learn. We understand the power each of our unique backgrounds bring when we work together. Because of that, we have a global network of thinkers, doers, experts, and curious creators who help one another do their life’s best work.