Technical Leader- Quantum Networking Hardware Engineer

The application window is expected to close on: 07/20/2026

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

Meet The Team

The Outshift by Cisco team is one of Cisco’s most visible innovation organizations, driving the next generation of transformative technologies and business opportunities. As part of the Strategy, Incubation & Applications group led by Cisco’s Chief Strategy Officer, you will collaborate with some of the company’s most forward-thinking researchers, engineers, and technology leaders. Within the Outshift Quantum Research team and Quantum Labs, we are pioneering the design and development of practical, scalable, and efficient quantum networking technologies — foundational building blocks for the future Quantum Internet. Our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers is dedicated to advancing the state of the art in quantum networking, distributed quantum systems, and quantum-enabled applications.

In this role, you can expect to

• Conduct competitive industry and academic research and development in quantum networking.  
• Work with engineers, and scientists in defining, designing and executing the R&D prototype development plan. 
• Contribute to Cisco’s vision in quantum networking, encompassing quantum hardware, software, applications, and use cases. 
• Have a proven grasp on overall landscape for quantum network technologies and develop a clear strategy around how to elevate competitive differentiators. 
• Contributes to the creation of novel technologies, use case demonstrations, in addition to defining a technology roadmap that elevates the competitive differentiators at every stage. Define value prop and return on investment at each stage. 
• Collaborate with the marketing team in identifying key collateral documents, data sheets, value props, presentation decks, ROI calculators, demo.
• Collaborate with the product team in tech transferring prototype demonstrations into possible products.

Your Impact

Cisco Quantum Research is seeking a highly skilled Scientist or Engineer with an experimental background to join our Quantum Experimental Team.  

• You will collaborate with a dynamic group of scientists and engineers to develop cutting-edge quantum networking solutions. 
• Role will involve both scientific research and the prototype development of Cisco's quantum networking technologies, solutions, and testbeds. 
• Propose novel quantum solutions to address grand challenges in dynamic quantum entanglement networking with specific focus on quantum entanglement sources, quantum switches and transduction.   
• Lead and participate in multiple R&D projects. 
• Develop prototype quantum networking systems and subsystems, conducting both table-top and on-site tests. 
• Contribute to the development of the continuously expanding Cisco Live quantum network testbed. 
• Lead use case and application demonstrations in the Cisco Quantum network testbed. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional product teams to translate prototypes into commercially viable products.
• Analyze and interpret experimental results, proposing solutions for improvement. 
• Write peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, and present research results at conferences. 
• Contribute to lab and team development. 
• Supervise postdocs and PhD interns. 

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Physics, Optics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or related fields. 
• 2+ years of experience in quantum communication or quantum optics post-PhD. 
• 3+ years of experience in experimental research in quantum or classical optical communication.  
• Educational and/or professional experience with quantum information concepts. 
• Experience leading research projects and/or publishing research papers on top journals and conferences. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Research track record in quantum computing and/or quantum networking. 
• Research experience with integrated quantum photonics; 
• Research experience with quantum light-matter interaction; 
• Research experience with entanglement swapping between independent nodes; 
• Research experience related to quantum memory and transduction. 
• Knowledge of standard optical telecommunication architecture. 
• Excellent 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 $163,600.00 to $234,600.00 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:

$183,800.00 - $303,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$163,600.00 - $269,800.00

* 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.