Leader, Hardware Engineering Design (Onsite)

The application window is expected to close on: 05/29/2026 Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received. This position requires that you live within commuting distance of our Milpitas, CA office and be onsite 5 days in a typical week. MEET THE TEAM The Hyperscaler Hardware Design team is responsible for the design of Cisco’s best-in-class high-performance Cisco 8000 series routers and smart switches. Our designs and products utilize Cisco’s revolutionary Silicon One ASICs that deliver unmatched performance and density with feature-rich functionality, enabling AI networks and core routing functions for hyperscalers webscale and service provider customers. YOUR IMPACT Lead a team of hardware board/systems engineers in R&D in full product lifecycles - from concept inception, to product requirements, to design, prototyping, design validation, certifications, production, and through post-production support. This position is hands-on and will require familiarity with design details, design flow, component selections and issues during design validation and certifications. Drive architectural decisions, designs and design reviews Ensure robust design practices and thorough design validation, for reliability Contribute to technology and product roadmaps Identify areas for improvement in the architecture and design processes Execute large and/or complex projects in multi-disciplined team with collaboration Own people management and team growth Advise on business performance impacts of key variables for assigned products MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BS degree in EE, CE or CS + 8+ years of relevant experience 5+ years of supervisory experience 5+ years of relevant experience in design of networking products with expertise in design tools and ecosystems such as PCB design, power management, logic design Experience in design for manufacturing, capabilities and tradeoffs Proven knowledge in high-speed network interfaces (25Gbps+), PCIe gen3+, DDR4+, CPU (x86 or ARM) subsystems PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS MS degree in EE, CE or CS + 5+ years of relevant experience Prior experience leading teams and delivering complex hardware projects. Industry experience in architecture, networking, design and methodology of cutting-edge board design development, e.g. multi-layer PCB designs, with high-speed interfaces (400G - 1.6T) and high-power ASICs Breadth of knowledge in peer disciplines such as mechanical, thermal, signal integrity, power integrity, logic/FPGA designs, diagnostics, production software, manufacturing, BIOS/ROMMON Proven experience in leading multi-disciplinary projects Hands-on lab skills Strong interpersonal and communication skills 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 $191,400.00 to $281,400.00 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, ex ... (truncated, view full listing at source)