Sourcing Commodity Manager - Optics&Photonics Optical-Interconnects

Cisco Systems, Inc; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with Cisco matching

Paid parental leave

Short/Long-term disability

Life insurance

Volunteer time off

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking a Supplier Commodity Manager for Optical Interconnects and Passive Optical Components. You will drive sourcing decisions, manage supplier relationships, and collaborate across Cisco's cross‑functional teams to align with product roadmaps and strategic goals.

The role requires a strong optics background, program leadership, and exceptional analytics to support design, fabrication, testing, and quality for optical communications and networking systems.

Qualifications

• MS (or equivalent) in technical subjects.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in engineering design, supply chain, or related fields.
• Knowledge of Optical technologies and fabrication processes (including III‑V, SiPhotonics, PLCs, fiber arrays).
• Deep technical expertise on optical and non‑optical components used in optical systems for communications and networking.
• Understanding of Optical Communications, Photonics and Networking industries.

Responsibilities

• Provide industry knowledge and understanding of Optics and Photonics fabrication technologies and market trends.
• Collaborate with Business Unit partners to understand long‑term requirements and map them to supply base offering.
• Define and implement sourcing decisions aligned with commodity strategy; perform risk assessments.
• Be part of large, multi‑location programs involving multiple Business Units.
• Manage supplier relationships during development and NPI through product release (technical, commercial, protos, quality).
• Negotiate and drive terms of legal agreements (NDA, DLA, SOW).
• Demonstrate exceptional data analytics and reporting skills to translate data into insights.
• Develop and execute short-, mid-, and long‑term sourcing strategies.
• Identify and promote solutions to complex technical and business situations.

Skills

Optics technologies

Supply chain strategy

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics

Education

MS in technical subjects

Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 11/15/2026

This is a hybrid role based twice in a week at the Cisco Office.

Meet The Team

Did you know? Cisco Supply Chain was just confirmed for the 7th year running in the top 5 of the “Gartner’s annual Supply Chain Top 25” rank, which identifies supply chain leaders and highlights their standard processes. There’s never been a better time to join us!

The Global Supplier Management (GSM) Organization is an industry leader in sourcing and supplier management that enables sustained innovation and supply chain excellence. You will join a very motivated team that achieves record setting results and a fun group that helps each other be successful at work and play.

Our team focus is to drive technology and product innovation, striking a balance between performance, quality, cost, high-volume manufacturing and delivery requirements. We accomplish this by collaborating very closely with external partners and suppliers, but also with all the internal cross‑functional teams: Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Manufacturing, Marketing and Legal.

You will work with all hardware engineering teams across Cisco, to understand their product roadmap and needs. You will drive early technology sensing across the industry, orchestrate roadmap reviews between Cisco and suppliers, identify and propose solutions, assess suppliers capabilities to meet both technical and business requirements.

Your Impact

You possess solid technical background, expertise on Optics and Photonics Components technologies, knowledge of market trends and industry players. You have a good understanding of key processes, requirements and challenges related to design, fabrication, testing and quality of Optical products for Communication and Networking.

You combine technical acumen with business sensibility and attitude to interpersonal communication and relationship management. You'll use your knowledgeability, trustworthiness, and accountability to build strong partnerships both inside and outside Cisco, to drive sourcing activities and decisions in agreement with company strategy and goals.

Cisco Global Supplier Management (GSM) team is seeking a motivated Supplier Commodity Manager for “Optical Interconnects and Passive Optical Components for CPO & Pluggable Transceivers”. You will be part of a highly impactful and dynamic organization collaborating with cross‑functional teams and suppliers.

• Provide industry knowledge and understanding of Optics and Photonics components fabrication technologies and market trends (cost, technology, supply chain ecosystem, etc.).
• Collaborate with Business Unit partners to: understand the long‑term requirements, map requirements into supply base offering, work to close roadmap gaps, facilitate optimal component selection
• Define and implement sourcing decision aligned with Commodity strategy, perform risk assessment and mitigation plans, identify and develop alternate technical solutions.
• Be part of large, sophisticated programs involving multiple players, locations and Business Units.
• Be responsible and accountable for supplier relationship management during development and NPI phase, until product release (including technical, commercial, protos delivery, and quality aspects)
• Negotiating, and driving all aspects/terms of legal agreements to protect and define development phase: NDA (Non‑Disclosure Agreement), DLA (Development and License Agreement), SOW (Statement of Work).
• Exceptional data analytics and reporting skills, with the ability to translate complex data and requirements into clear technical and business insights.(Move It to your impact)
• Ability to develop and execute short-, mid-, and long‑term strategies
• Identify and promote solutions to complex technical and business situations

Minimum Qualifications

• MS (or equivalent) in technical subjects, with 7+ years of relevant experience
• Could be a combination of engineering design with business strategy or supply chain experience
• Knowledge and understanding of Optical technologies and fabrication processes (including III‑V, SiPhotonics, PLCs, fiber arrays, free‑space/discrete components and Systems for Optical Communications, etc.)
• Deep technical expertise on key Components (optical and non‑optical) used in Optical Systems for communications and networking applications
• Knowledge of the Optical Communications, Photonics and Networking Industry and ecosystems

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical and business‑related problem solving skills
• Strong interpersonal communication and relationship management skills
• Demonstrates leading constructive discussions, taking ownership, managing emotions with empathy, and supporting team growth

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 $150,400.00 to $190,600.00 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.

• 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

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

• .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.

New York City Metro Area

$150,400.00 - $219,200.00

Non‑Metro New York State & Washington State

$134,800.00 - $200,400.00

• 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.