Cisco Hardware Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The application window is expected to close on: 08/28/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Hardware Engineering Technical Leader (onsite) - 2014979
*position requires onsite work activity at San Jose CA office*
Cisco Hardware Engineers develop and work with Next Generation Technology to build Cisco Hardware products keeping in mind the user experience and in accordance with IEEE standards, and industry best practices. Hardware Engineers serve a range of roles at Cisco from IP Creators and architects creating industry standards, to Solution Integrators driving cross-functional teams to go from concept to production, as well as providing expertise in Solution Verification and ensuring that our products meet Cisco and Industry quality standards. They drive innovation across the large CISCO portfolio, including but not limited to System/Board Design, Circuit Board Layout, Hardware Automation, Validation and Test, Signal Integrity and Power Design. They work cross functionally with system designers, diagnostics engineers, customer escalation engineers, & external vendors to ensure robust test methodology & timely issue mitigation resulting in high product quality and enable next generation solutions. They drive innovation across Cisco's hardware portfolio and enables next generation solutions through IP development, research, and challenging the status quo within the industry (finding ways to optimize cost, performance, and quality.
Meet the Team:
Cisco Systems is seeking a System Level Test Engineering Technical Lead to validate and ensure the quality of next-generation networking platforms, including switches, routers, and data center systems.
What You'll Do:
In this role, you will drive end-to-end system validation across hardware, firmware, and software stacks, ensuring robust performance, scalability, and reliability under real-world and stress conditions.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership
• Leads the innovation, design and architecture of new hardware products, services and solutions.
• Re-enforces guidelines/standards within and outside of ownership.
• Oversees development of testing and issue resolution approach, and coordinates with appropriate stakeholders to address issues.
• Develops approach to verifying products against Cisco and industry quality standards.
• Provides technical knowledge to engineering teams where needed to support production, installation and configuration of complex hardware products.
• Mentors peers or others on the team.
• Facilitates/encourages knowledge sharing in the team (e.g., brownbags, demos, design sessions).
System Validation & Integration
• Define and execute system-level validation strategies for complex networking platforms
• Validate end-to-end functionality across hardware, OS, and networking software stacks
• Perform feature, regression, interoperability, and scale testing
Test Development & Automation
• Develop automated test frameworks using Python, C/C++, or similar languages
• Build scalable validation environments for high-throughput networking systems
• Integrate tests into CI/CD pipelines for continuous validation
Performance & Scale Testing
• Design and execute tests for throughput, latency, packet loss, and scale limits
• Validate system behavior under high traffic loads and real-world network conditions
• Analyze system performance across L2/L3 protocols and data center workloads
Debug & Root Cause Analysis
• Debug complex issues spanning ASICs, firmware, drivers, and network OS
• Perform root cause analysis using logs, traces, and lab instrumentation
• Collaborate with design and software teams to resolve issues efficiently
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with ASIC, hardware design, software, and architecture teams
• Influence design decisions by identifying system-level risks early
• Work with customers and field teams to reproduce and resolve issues
• Drives innovation on medium-to-large features from technical design through
completion and mentors others.
• Drives the Hardware Engineering strategy within the group and Cisco, and ensures cross functional collaboration on projects.
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in ASIC bring-up, system validation, networking test, or hardware/software integration
• Experience with Linux systems and debugging tools
• Programming/scripting experience (Python, C/C++, or similar)
• Hands-on experience with system-level debugging and familiarity with lab equipment like MMs, Oscilloscopes
• Experience with Test Data Analysis and familiarity with tools like jmp, pandas or other data analysis tools

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with high-speed interfaces (Ethernet 25G/100G/400G, PCIe)
• Product and Test Engineering background
• Experience testing network operating systems (NX-OS, IOS-XR, or similar)
• Knowledge of traffic generators (Ixia, Spirent) and network test tools
• Knowledge of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, routing, switching)
• Experience with automation frameworks and large-scale testbeds

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 $171,600.00 to $245,000.00 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.
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 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:

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