Principal Hardware Engineer

Apply
  • Location:
    San Jose, California, US
  • Alternate Location
    Anywhere in U.S.
  • Area of Interest
    Engineer - Hardware
  • Compensation Range
    220800 USD - 314200 USD
  • Job Type
    Professional
  • Technology Interest
    Networking
  • Job Id
    1442462

Application Deadline expected to close June 14, 2025

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Meet the Team

Silicon One is Cisco's networking silicon architecture crafted to power its next generation of high-performance networking hardware. It is a unified, programmable silicon architecture that can be used across various types of network devices, including routers and switches.

Your Impact

You will own and drive the post-silicon test and validation of complex SoC and test chips, ensuring first-time-right silicon and timely execution. You will also partner with design, validation, DFX, software, and program management teams to develop, validate, and deliver high-quality products.

Responsibilities


  • Define and implement robust product development strategies, test plans, and bring-up methodologies for high-performance network silicon
  • Troubleshoot complex silicon/system-level issues, perform data analysis, and derive actionable insights to improve performance and yield
  • Coach, mentor, and grow junior engineers to build a strong, resilient technical team
  • Clearly present technical updates, risk assessments, and progress to leadership and multi-functional stakeholders.
  • Continuously assess and refine development methodologies, adopting ground breaking tools and technologies to improve efficiency
  • Work with external foundry partners, IP vendors, and strategic customers to align on expectations and resolve critical issues
  • Proactively identify project risks and implement mitigation plans throughout the product development lifecycle

Minimum Qualifications


  • BS, MS or PHD in Electrical Engineering
  • Proven experience in semiconductor product development, with strong emphasis on post-silicon validation and high-volume manufacturing, expertise in digital and mixed-signal design, test program development, bring-up, and debug
  • Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, Perl, Shell) and hardware description languages (Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL) and previous experience with foundry engagement and working on advanced process nodes (7nm, 5nm, or below)
  • Deep understanding of SoC/FPGA architecture, CPU/GPU subsystems, and advanced packaging technologies
  • Solid experience with lab tools and equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG, etc. and expert in MBIST and ATPG methodologies, patterns, and tools

Preferred Qualifications


  • Prior experience with silicon bring-up, yield analysis, and ATE test development.
  • Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and drive multi-functional alignment
  • Strong interpersonal and program management abilities, with demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent product efforts
  • Outstanding communication and presentation skills, including experience working with executives and customers

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.

Share

Apply