Hardware Engineer I (Co-op) United States

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  • Location:
    San Jose, California, US
  • Alternate Location
    San Francisco California, RTP North Carolina, Austin Texas, Remote USA
  • Area of Interest
    Engineer - Hardware
  • Compensation Range
    44000 USD - 130000 USD
  • Job Type
    Co-Op
  • Technology Interest
    Cloud and Data Center, Internet of Everything, Networking, Service Provider, Software Development, Wireless, Mobility
  • Job Id
    1449082
Applications are accepted until further notice.  

Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.  

Meet the Team  

Engineering:

Open-minded, driven, diverse and deeply creative people at Cisco design the hardware that makes the internet work. Bring your knowledge of computers and networking and take it to a new level in any one of the following product categories including: cloud, social, mobile/wireless, video, VoIP, big data, collaboration, web, Internet of Things, routing, switching, IPv6, data center, HPC, Telepresence and many more. Your work will impact billions globally.

Supply Chain Operations:

Collaborate with peers on projects that have a real-world impact. From our processes to manufacturing, you'll deliver a standout customer experience of Cisco products and services. Take your creative ideas from the drawing board to deliver powerful solutions. You'll collaborate with multi-functional teams to determine our infrastructural needs and product specifications.

Your Impact 

Join our Creative Hardware Engineering team and make a tangible impact across the full product development cycle-from foundational circuit design to large system integration-seeing your contributions realized in high-volume manufacturing.
  • Shape the product lifecycle by managing multiple priorities and advancing both immediate and long-term hardware goals.
  • Build and sustain strong relationships with cross-functional teams while collaborating on ASIC Design and Verification for reliable, high-performance products.
  • Drive innovation in System/Board Design, leveraging excellent communication skills to align and deliver robust hardware solutions.
  • Apply your collaborative spirit and technical expertise to optimize Circuit Board Layout for efficiency, manufacturability, and quality.
  • Champion Hardware Automation initiatives, working across business groups to streamline development and testing processes.
  • Lead Validation and Test activities by fostering positive team dynamics and ensuring product excellence.
  • Enhance Signal Integrity, coordinating with extended teams to achieve optimal speed and data fidelity in complex systems.
  • Advance Power Design strategies, contributing to energy-efficient and sustainable hardware solutions as a trusted team player.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
  • Foundational understanding of hardware engineering principles, including experience with hardware design and tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence, Mentor Graphics) and simulation software. 
  • Familiarity with hardware testing and debugging techniques using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters. 
  • Strong grasp of engineering fundamentals and technical problem-solving abilities. 
  • Able to commit to a 6-month co-op program.
  • Able to legally live and work in the country for which you’re applying, without visa support or sponsorship.
Preferred Qualifications  
  • Ability to lead multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and work toward both short- and long-term goals. 
  • Experience building and maintaining positive working relationships within diverse and extended teams. 
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Proven ability to work collaboratively across business groups and teams (hardware, software, manufacturing, etc.). 
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. Simply put – we power the future.  

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:

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.

Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday. Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period. Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations. All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter.  Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours. Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind. All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. 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 up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

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