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Emulation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Developing emulation infrastructure using C/C++ and TCL * As a team member, work closely with the design, DV, power, and post-silicon diagnostic teams. * Assist with test plan design, test ...

The Emulation team works closely with architects, designers, verification engineers, software engineers, and customers. The team is currently seeking candidates with experience in the following ...

We are looking for a Principal Emulation Engineer with hands-on experience verifying protocols on complex ASICs and experience with or interest in emulation. The ideal candidate would be at ease ...

As an Hardware Emulation Architect on the HBM architecture team you will be responsible for architecting, enabling, and deploying hardware emulation capabilities for next generation HBM products. You ...

Principal Emulation Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$209K - $230K/yr

We are looking for a Principal Emulation Engineer with hands-on experience verifying protocols on complex ASICs and experience with or interest in emulation. The ideal candidate would be at ease ...

Showing results 41-60

Emulation information

See California salary details

$22

$51

$77

How much do emulation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for emulation in California is $51.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.89 and $62.40 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is emulation in the context of technology jobs?

Emulation refers to the process of imitating the functionality of one computer system or device on another. In technology jobs, emulation professionals often create software or hardware environments that mimic the behavior of different platforms, allowing software to run as if it were on the original hardware. This is especially useful for testing, development, and running legacy applications. Emulation plays a crucial role in areas like software development, gaming, and chip design, ensuring compatibility and preserving older systems.

What is the difference between Emulation vs Simulation?

AspectEmulationSimulation
PurposeReplicates hardware/software behavior in real-time for testing and developmentModels system behavior to analyze performance or predict outcomes
AccuracyHigh fidelity, closely mimics actual hardware/softwareVariable accuracy, focuses on behavior over exact replication
Work EnvironmentUsed in hardware/software development, testing labsUsed in research, training, and analysis
CredentialsKnowledge of hardware, software, and testing toolsUnderstanding of system modeling and analysis

Emulation and simulation are both vital in technology development. Emulation provides a real-time, high-fidelity replication of hardware or software, ideal for testing and debugging. Simulation offers a broader analysis of system behavior, useful for research and performance prediction. While they share overlapping skills, emulation emphasizes real-world accuracy, whereas simulation focuses on modeling system dynamics.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, data engineering, or systems architecture can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries like technology or finance. Executive or leadership roles in engineering organizations may also reach this compensation level. Achieving this often requires advanced degrees, certifications, and a track record of significant contributions or leadership.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Emulation Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Emulation Engineer, you need a strong background in digital design, hardware verification, and a relevant degree in electrical engineering or computer science. Familiarity with hardware description languages (HDLs) like Verilog/VHDL, emulation platforms (such as Cadence Palladium or Mentor Veloce), and scripting languages is crucial. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective collaboration distinguish top professionals in this field. These skills are vital for efficiently validating complex hardware systems, reducing time-to-market, and ensuring product reliability.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those in specialized fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, or cybersecurity, can earn $300,000 or more annually, often with experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. Executive-level engineering roles such as CTOs or engineering directors may also reach or exceed this salary level, particularly in large tech companies or startups with equity compensation.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in emulation, and how can they overcome them?

Professionals in emulation roles often encounter challenges such as keeping pace with rapidly evolving hardware architectures and ensuring accurate replication of complex system behaviors. Debugging compatibility issues and optimizing for performance without sacrificing accuracy are also frequent hurdles. Collaboration with hardware engineers and software developers is vital, as is staying informed about new tools and best practices. Developing strong problem-solving skills and engaging with the emulation community can help address these challenges effectively.

What do emulation engineers do?

Emulation engineers design, develop, and maintain hardware or software systems that replicate the behavior of other devices or software environments. They often work with simulation tools, programming languages, and testing frameworks to ensure accurate performance and compatibility, supporting tasks like system validation and debugging.
What job categories do people searching Emulation jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Emulation jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Emulation jobs? Cities in California with the most Emulation job openings:
Infographic showing various Emulation job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,736 per year, or $51.3 per hour.
Emulation Engineer

$152K - $219K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Cisco Systems rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 42 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

53rd of 155 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

The application window is expected to close on: 08/31/2026

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

This is an onsite role and will require working out of the Milpitas/San Jose office location.
Meet The Team:
The Common Hardware Group (CHG) delivers the silicon, optics, and hardware platforms for Cisco's core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products. We design the networking hardware for Enterprises and Service Providers of various sizes, the Public Sector, and Non-Profit Organizations across the world. Cisco Silicon One (#CiscoSiliconOne) is the only unifying silicon architecture in the market that enables customers to deploy the best-of-breed silicon from Top of Rack (TOR) switches all the way through web scale data centers and across service providers, enterprise networks, and data centers with a fully unified routing and switching portfolio. Come join us and take part in shaping Cisco's ground-breaking solutions by designing, developing, and testing some of the most complex ASICs being developed in the industry.
You will work with Cisco's best-in-class switching solution team. Our team is responsible for driving integration of the Nexus systems and ACI with software, including OpenStack, Docker, and Open vSwitch, to help our customers build multitenant clouds.
Your Impact:

  • Develop pioneering emulation environments that will be used to evaluate the performance and functionality of multi-terabit systems.

  • Developing emulation infrastructure using C/C++ and TCL

  • As a team member, work closely with the design, DV, power, and post-silicon diagnostic teams.

  • Assist with test plan design, test implementation, and debugging during the pre-silicon emulation process.

  • Develop tests to generate complex traffic, and performance scenarios to catch potential post-Silicon issues during the Pre-Silicon phase.

  • Work with leading emulation team members to solve issues.


Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelors + 5 years of related experience, or Masters + 3 years of related experience.

  • Prior emulation experience on platforms such as Palladium, Veloce, or Zebu as well as experience with compilation, debug, performance testing.

  • Prior experience with RTL development for Emulation prototypes.

  • Prior experience with C/C++ and TCL infrastructure development.

  • Prior experience with System debug tools like gdb, waveform debuggers.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with scripting programs (e.g., Python, Perl or similar)

  • Prior experience with UVM and System Verilog.

  • Post Silicon functional validation or debugging experience is a plus.

  • Experience with protocols e.g. PCie, I2C, Ethernet packet headers, Ethernet protocol is preferred

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 $152,500.00 to $219,200.00 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.

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 ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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:

$152,500.00 - $252,000.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$135,800.00 - $224,400.00

* 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.


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About Cisco Systems

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Cisco Systems, a global tech titan based in San Jose, CA, US, operates in the information technology and services industry. Founded in 1984, the company was derived from a project between two computer scientists from Stanford University. They aimed to connect different networks of computer systems at the university, resulting in the first multi-protocol router, and subsequently, the birth of Cisco. As an industry-leading manufacturer of networking hardware and telecommunications equipment, Cisco's product and services range includes routers, switches, firewall devices, and telecommunication technology. The company's mission, "to shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors, and ecosystem partners," is a testament to its pursuit of technology-forward innovation and customer satisfaction.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Jose, CA, US

Year founded

1984

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