Sr Hardware Engineer

Posted 2 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
2 Locations
In-Office
137K-259K Annually
Senior level
Cloud • Information Technology • Internet of Things • Professional Services • Software
The Role
Designs and develops enterprise and small-business networking switches from architecture through production. Responsibilities include creating technical documentation, system block diagrams, schematics and layout reviews, hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, validation, yield improvement, supplier collaboration, and sustaining customer issue resolution. The role partners with ASIC suppliers, ODM/JDM manufacturers, software, product management, and cross-functional teams throughout new product introduction and commercialization.
Summary Generated by Built In
The application window is expected to close on: 12/10/2026Meet the Team

The Silicon One team creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, and hardware platforms are shaping the technology industry. We're a global team of creative experts, bringing our unique backgrounds and bold ideas to push boundaries and help each other grow. Because full product development—from design to qualification to production—is within our team, we’re able to think differently, experiment more, and work quickly. Join us to power the future of the digital world. 


Join the Cisco Low End Enterprise and Small Business switch team in developing the next generation switches for simplified and easy-to-use cloud connected edge Networks customers.


Cisco’s LE/SMB switches team provides an outstanding, unique experience for Networks Hardware Engineers by combining the resources offered by a sizable multi-geography Hardware organization.


Your Impact
  • Specify technical product documentations and lead reviews.
  • Architect system block diagrams with major Networking ASIC suppliers.
  • Design Networking Switches, review schematics/layout review, bring-up, troubleshooting, design validation, and build yield bring-up with tier one ODM/JDM partners.
  • Work with major component supplier on the next generation high-performance and cost-effective technology.
  • Collaborate with world class product management and Software platform team to develop next generation product definition.
  • Work closely with cross functional team (ID/ME/Compliance/SCM) in each NPI phases and bring the product to the market.
  • Triage, debug, and root cause major customer issues during sustaining stage.
  • Participate any process improvement and innovation.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer engineering with 7 years, or Master’s degree and 4 years of experience of Networking equipment Hardware system design experiences.
  • Prior experience working with multi-gigabit Ethernet and Power-over Ethernet (PoE) technology.
  • Prior experience with schematics/layout, Hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, system level testing.
  • Experience with working with Software teams on system bring-up and porting, devices configuration (registers level).

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Familiar with Networking technologies and concepts
  • Prior experience working on high volume and cost-sensitive product
  • Experience with bringing product to production
  • Experience with working with teams on different time-zones.
  • Excellent communication and strategic planning skills, while being self-motivated with a focus on execution.
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 $154,900.00 to $225,300.00 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:

$154,900.00 - $259,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$136,500.00 - $228,300.00

* 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.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering with 7 years of networking equipment hardware system design experience
  • Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering with 4 years of networking equipment hardware system design experience
  • Experience with multi-gigabit Ethernet and Power-over-Ethernet technology
  • Experience with schematics and layout
  • Experience with hardware bring-up and troubleshooting
  • Experience with system-level testing
  • Experience working with software teams on system bring-up and porting
  • Experience with device configuration at the register level
  • Familiarity with networking technologies and concepts
  • Experience working on high-volume, cost-sensitive products
  • Experience bringing products to production
  • Experience working with teams across different time zones
  • Excellent communication and strategic planning skills
  • Self-motivated with a focus on execution

Cisco Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cisco and has not been reviewed or approved by Cisco.

  • Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as broad, with medical options including PPOs, high-deductible plans, and regional HMOs. Feedback suggests robust wellness and mental-health resources, with some locations offering on-site support and second medical opinions.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is highlighted through paid holidays, paid time off, and additional recharge days such as “Days for Me,” with generous volunteer time also mentioned. Feedback suggests these programs help support rest, volunteering, and critical life events.
  • Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support appears extensive, including paid child-bonding leave, family medical leave, and caregiving resources. Observations also point to family-planning assistance and adoption or surrogacy support in some regions.

Cisco Insights

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The Company
HQ: San Jose, CA
77,500 Employees
Year Founded: 1984

What We Do

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) enables people to make powerful connections--whether in business, education, philanthropy, or creativity. Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings are used to create the Internet solutions that make networks possible--providing easy access to information anywhere, at any time. Cisco was founded in 1984 by a small group of computer scientists from Stanford University. Since the company's inception, Cisco engineers have been leaders in the development of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technologies. Today, with more than 71,000 employees worldwide, this tradition of innovation continues with industry-leading products and solutions in the company's core development areas of routing and switching, as well as in advanced technologies such as home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology. In addition to its products, Cisco provides a broad range of service offerings, including technical support and advanced services. Cisco sells its products and services, both directly through its own sales force as well as through its channel partners, to large enterprises, commercial businesses, service providers, and consumers.

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