Hardware Engineering Program Manager

The application window is expected to close on: 08/15/2026

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

This role requires the employee to work onsite at the San Jose, CA office location.

Meet the team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally.

Within CHG, the Systems & Optics Team (SaO) serves as the execution engine for Cisco's most strategic hardware initiatives. We partner across silicon, engineering, product management, operations, supply chain, manufacturing, and executive leadership to transform technology strategy into successful product delivery. Our mission is to provide program leadership, governance, transparency, and execution rigor across highly complex system development programs, shaping the future of hyperscale infrastructure.

Your Impact:

• Lead end-to-end Data Center Switching hardware program development from initial concept through customer release, defining clear priorities, breakthroughs, and comprehensive execution plans.

• Orchestrate complex, multi-functional programs by aligning hardware and software engineering, product management, operations and other multi-functional teams to ensure cohesive delivery.

• Proactively monitor program health, identify risks and dependencies, and drive timely issue resolution through actionable recommendations to partners.

• Champion continuous process improvements, governance frameworks, and the integration of automation and AI-enabled tools to enhance operational efficiency.

• Manage financial integrity and resource allocation, ensuring that budgets are tracked accurately and projects remain within scope and on schedule.

• Facilitate seamless collaboration between internal teams, manufacturing partners, and external suppliers while providing transparent status updates to leadership.

• Work independently but receive minimal guidance and direction from leader then determine the best approach to accomplish work.

Minimum qualification:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering such as electrical, industrial or mechanical or physics + 7 years of related experience in technical hardware program/project management or hardware/product development.

• Experience handling end-end programs including budget oversight, schedule management, and breakthrough tracking.

• Experience in advanced spreadsheet management, including the use of data modeling and visualization to track project metrics.

• Experience in action tracking, executive updates, dashboards and organizational communications.

• Experience with managing cross-functional dependencies in engineering environments with focus on time-to-market.

Preferred qualification:

• Experience working in non-program management NPI development roles.

• In-depth knowledge of hardware manufacturing environments and production workflows.

• Background in supply chain operations or procurement strategies for complex hardware programs.

• Experience in utilizing Codex and other AI tools/agents for productivity enhancements.

• Experience applying Jira, Confluence and SharePoint to track project dependencies, risks, and issue resolution.

• Demonstrated experience with Design Verification Testing (DVT) processes within hardware development lifecycles.

• Proven ability to navigate and influence outcomes in a highly matrixed, globally distributed organization.

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 $152,400.00 to $221,800.00 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:

$152,400.00 - $255,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$134,300.00 - $224,800.00

* 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.