Tech Lead - Hardware /Embedded Engineer

020 Cisco Systems, Inc.; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 151,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco Systems, Inc. is seeking an Embedded & Controls Engineer to join the Outshift Quantum Research team and help develop deployable quantum networking hardware.

You will own electronics and control architecture across PCB design, FPGA and embedded software, and system integration, working with photonics, software, systems, and mechanical engineers to turn lab prototypes into field-ready platforms. This role requires ultra-low-noise electronics, sub-nanosecond timing, and rigorous testing to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; 8+ years of related experience.
• 3+ years developing custom electronic hardware and embedded control systems.
• Experience with embedded software/firmware development using C/C++.

Responsibilities

• Architect custom mixed-signal PCBs for precision control and data acquisition.
• Develop embedded software/firmware to control electronics and photonic components.
• Design high-speed analog/digital signal paths with strict SI and latency requirements.
• Interface with embedded processors, FPGAs, ADCs/DACs, and telemetry signals.
• Design and tune digital control loops for optical and electronic hardware.
• Architect low-noise power distribution, grounding, and control electronics.
• Develop system interfaces using Ethernet, UART, SPI, USB, GPIO, and high-speed data-converter interfaces.
• Define and implement APIs for higher-level software platforms to control hardware and access telemetry.
• Create cableHarnessing and interconnect solutions for RF, digital, analog, and high-speed signals.
• Collaborate across software, systems, mechanical, optical, and photonics teams to optimize thermal, grounding, EMI/EMC, and reliability.
• Lead hardware bring-up and debug complex interactions between electronics, firmware, FPGA logic, and system software.
• Create comprehensive hardware, firmware, and system-level test plans; drive design improvements.
• Transform lab prototypes into manufacturable, field-deployable rack-mounted systems.

Skills

Embedded software/firmware (C/C++)

FPGA-based systems

Mixed-signal PCB design

High-speed electronics

System bring-up & debugging

Hardware-software interfaces

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

PhD in related field

Tools

FPGA

RTL / HLS

Job description

Meet the Team

The Outshift by Cisco team is one of Cisco’s most visible innovation organizations, driving the next generation of transformative technologies and business opportunities. As part of the Strategy, Incubation & Applications group led by Cisco’s Chief Strategy Officer, you will collaborate with some of the company’s most forward-thinking researchers, engineers, and technology leaders. Within the Outshift Quantum Research team and Quantum Labs, we are pioneering the design and development of practical, scalable, and efficient quantum networking technologies — foundational building blocks for the future Quantum Internet. Our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers is dedicated to advancing the state of the art in quantum networking, distributed quantum systems, and quantum-enabled applications.

Your Impact

Cisco Quantum Research is seeking a highly skilled Embedded & Controls Engineer to help develop the next generation of deployable quantum networking hardware. You will take end-to-end ownership of the electronics and control architecture that connects our advanced photonic and quantum hardware to Cisco's software and orchestration platforms. Your work will span custom PCB design, mixed-signal and high-speed electronics, FPGA and embedded systems, firmware, precision control algorithms, hardware APIs, and rack-level system integration. Working closely with our photonics, software, systems, and mechanical engineering teams, you will transform laboratory prototypes into robust, manufacturable systems capable of operating outside the laboratory. You will address challenging requirements including ultra-low-noise electronics, precise synchronization, sub-nanosecond timing, high-speed signal integrity, closed-loop optical control, and reliable remote management. Your work will establish the electronic and control infrastructure required to bring Cisco's quantum networking technologies from research prototypes into scalable, field-deployable platforms.

You Will:

• Architect custom mixed-signal PCBs for precision control, data acquisition, timing, and communication within rack-mounted quantum systems.
• Develop embedded software and firmware to control custom electronics, optical components, and photonic devices.
• Design high-speed analog and digital signal paths while maintaining stringent requirements for signal integrity, latency, synchronization, and noise.
• Interface with embedded processors, FPGAs, ADCs, DACs, and discrete control and telemetry signals.
• Design, implement, and tune digital control loops for precision regulation and stabilization of optical and electronic hardware.
• Architect low-noise power distribution, grounding, and control electronics for sensitive quantum hardware.
• Develop interfaces for system communication using technologies such as Ethernet, UART, SPI, USB, GPIO, and high-speed data-converter interfaces.
• Define and implement APIs that enable higher-level software platforms to control hardware and access system status and telemetry.
• Develop custom cable harnessing and interconnect solutions for RF, digital, analog, telemetry, and high-speed signals.
• Collaborate with software, systems, mechanical, optical, and photonics engineers to optimize thermal performance, grounding, EMI/EMC, signal integrity, and overall system reliability.
• Lead hardware bring-up and debug complex interactions between electronics, firmware, FPGA logic, and system-level software.
• Create and implement comprehensive hardware, firmware, and system-level test plans; analyze results and drive design improvements.
• Transform laboratory and benchtop prototypes into reliable, manufacturable, field-deployable rack-mounted systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors + 8 years of related experience, or Masters + 6 years of related experience, or PhD + 3 years of related experience, or equivalent related work experience.
• 3+ years of experience developing custom electronic hardware and embedded control systems.
• Experience designing mixed-signal PCBs incorporating embedded processors, microcontrollers, or FPGAs.
• Experience in embedded software/firmware development using C/C++.
• Experience with FPGA-based systems, including familiarity with RTL and/or High‑Level Synthesis (HLS).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing electronics and control systems for lasers, electro‑optic modulators, optical switches, photonic integrated circuits, or other photonic devices.
• Experience with analog and digital electronics, signal integrity, impedance matching, grounding, and high-speed PCB design.
• Experience working with ADCs, DACs, and mixed-signal data-acquisition and control systems.
• Experience with common communication interfaces including Ethernet, UART, SPI, USB, and GPIO.
• Experience designing low-noise power distribution and electronics for sensitive instrumentation.
• Background in classical optics, quantum optics, quantum networking, photonics, or precision instrumentation.

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 $151,300.00 to $216,200.00 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.

• 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.
• 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 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 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.

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.