System Hardware Board Design Engineering Lead

Cisco

Confirmed live today High trust

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Milpitas, CA
Salary
$171,600–$245,000 / yr
Employment
Full-time
Posted
4 days ago
Freshness
Confirmed live today
Closes
Dec 31, 2026

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $196k
This role $208k
$139k $256k
below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 61% of similar roles. Most pay $167,300–$223,750 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $208k versus about $196k 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 307 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $167,700–$245,000 across 224 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · System Hardware Board Design Engineering Lead

The System Hardware Board Design Engineering Lead joins the Service Provider Routing Hardware Engineering team to develop next-generation high-performance routers. As a technical leader, you will define board-level architecture, power-delivery strategies, and technology choices for complex networking products. You will lead major hardware initiatives from requirements through manufacturing release, solving high-risk signal integrity, power integrity, thermal, and reliability challenges. Key responsibilities include owning sub-system designs, performing laboratory work, and mentoring engineers. You must possess expertise in high-speed digital design, SerDes, PCIe, DDR, and multi-phase power conversion. Required tools and skills include Cadence Concept, Allegro, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers. This role addresses the technical challenges of building cloud-enhanced systems powered by Silicon One ASICs for large-scale data centers and service provider networks.

What you'll do

  • Define board-level architecture, technology choices, power-delivery strategy, and design direction for complex networking products.
  • Lead major hardware initiatives from initial requirements and architecture through validation, qualification, and manufacturing release.
  • Solve high-risk signal integrity, power integrity, reliability, thermal, and manufacturing challenges.
  • Own the design and validation of specific hardware sub-systems to ensure they meet functional specifications.
  • Partner with silicon vendors, PCB fabricators, and contract manufacturers on technical tradeoffs and product execution.
  • Communicate technical risks, alternatives, and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
  • Mentor engineers and establish practical design methods, verification strategies, and quality improvements.

What we're looking for

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering with 7+ years of experience, or Master’s with 5+ years, or PhD with 2+ years.
  • Experience with hardware board design and system-level development, including high-speed digital design, signal integrity, and power integrity.
  • Experience with hardware validation using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.
  • Experience taking board designs from concept through production using tools like Cadence Concept and Allegro.
  • Experience with networking, server, or high-performance embedded systems including Ethernet, PCIe, DDR, SerDes, and thermal management.
  • Experience leading technical projects, partnering with silicon vendors and fabricators, and leading multi-site or cross-functional engineering teams.
  • Experience with networking product design (preferred).
  • Experience with co-packaged optics, near-packaged optics, or optical and signal-integrity budget analysis (preferred).

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