This role pays more than
95%
of similar roles. Most pay
$170,000–$241,037
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$329k
versus about
$206k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About Cisco
Cisco Systems is the world''s leading networking technology company, designing and manufacturing networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and cybersecurity solutions for businesses and governments. Industry: Networking Technology & Cybersecurity
Cisco currently has
196 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$167,700–$245,200
across 196 roles with salary data.
Distinguished Hardware Engineer
The Distinguished Hardware Engineer joins the Silicon & Optics QUAD Quality team within the Common Hardware Group to serve as a primary technical authority for hardware quality standards. This role involves leading complex root cause investigations, translating findings into durable defensive design improvements, and managing corrective action programs across manufacturing and supply chains. The engineer will develop hardware quality strategies and validation standards for switching, routing, and AI data center compute products. Key responsibilities include utilizing large-scale data analysis and AI-driven pattern recognition on field telemetry to mitigate risks. Required expertise includes physical failure analysis methods like CT scanning, X-ray, TDR, thermal imaging, SEM, EDS, and cross-sectioning. The role also requires knowledge of high-speed interfaces, power delivery systems, advanced packaging, and reliability modeling to ensure the long-term robustness of high-performance hardware portfolios.
Define and govern comprehensive hardware quality strategies and validation standards for high-performance products.
Lead complex root cause investigations and corrective action programs for critical failures in design, manufacturing, and supply chain.
Implement "defensive design" principles to ensure architectural robustness and prevent recurring issues in future product generations.
Analyze large-scale field telemetry and data using AI-driven patterns to identify and mitigate systemic risks.
Serve as the primary technical authority representing Cisco’s quality standards to executive-level customers.
Advise executive leadership on product roadmaps and provide high-stakes technical briefings on reliability commitments.
Mentor the engineering community and influence industry-wide hardware design decisions at the portfolio level.
What we're looking for
A Bachelor's degree with 15+ years of experience, a Master's degree with 14+ years, or a PhD with 10+ years of related experience is required.
Candidates must have established depth across board and system failure domains to influence hardware design decisions at the portfolio level.
Extensive experience resolving critical, systemic quality issues across high-performance hardware programs at scale is required.
Expert-level skills are required in leading investigations for high-severity customer and field issues.
Experience applying large-scale data analysis on field telemetry and reliability databases to execute proactive corrective actions is required.
Preferred experience includes leading executive-level technical briefings on root cause, corrective action, and reliability commitments for hyperscaler clients.
Proficiency in physical failure analysis methods, including non-destructive (CT scan, X-ray) and destructive (SEM, EDS, decapsulation) techniques is preferred.
Knowledge of hardware qualification frameworks, high-speed interfaces, power delivery systems, and advanced packaging is preferred.
PCB Design
Altium
Eagle
Firmware
Ethernet
CAN
I2C
SPI
PCIe
USB
FPGA
MCU
Signal Integrity
Power Integrity
Data Acquisition
DO-254
DO-178C
DO-160
MIL-STD-1316
MIL-STD-882E