Hardware Engineering Technical Leader

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

Meet the Team

You'll be part of the Component Quality & Technology (CQT)  within the Global Supplier Management (GSM) organization. CQT is a key hub of technical innovation in Cisco. Members of the organization focus on evaluating and developing new technologies to enable sustained product differentiation. You will be a part of a diverse team that seamlessly blends different levels of expertise in several areas of semiconductor and systems design combining traditional knowledge with groundbreaking data analytics techniques to tackle increasingly sophisticated problems. You will regularly engage with Cisco Business Units as your partners and customers, Suppliers of the commodity space you are managing and extended Supply Chain functions including Global Supply Management, Product Operations and Global Manufacturing Organization.

Your Impact

We are seeking a highly motivated Interconnect engineer with a strong background in electromechanical and connector design, eager to become an expert in the multidisciplinary aspects of bringing next-generation interconnect components from concept to production. The ideal candidate is passionate about problem-solving and continuous improvement, with an unwavering commitment to product quality and the ability to deliver advanced high-speed interconnect solutions for Cisco products. They bring a "can-do" attitude, independent thinking, and strong leadership presence — able to communicate complex technical issues clearly across all leadership levels in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Hands-on experience in connector design and system-level integration is essential for developing and optimizing connectivity pathways in modern electronic systems.
In this role, you will leverage your design expertise to evaluate and qualify sophisticated interconnect components that optimize signal integrity, mechanical robustness, reliability, and overall system performance, while complying with industry standards and regulatory requirements. You will lead cross-functional teams to evaluate, down-select, and qualify connectors and interconnect components, partnering closely with suppliers to predict and validate interconnect behavior from concept through NPI. Your deep understanding of materials, plating, and fabrication processes will ensure components are technically sound, reliable, and cost-effective. You will also manage vendor relationships, mentor junior engineers, and drive continuous improvement and excellence throughout the product lifecycle.
Your role will be pivotal in bringing the next generation of high-speed architectures to market through expert component engineering and strong program leadership. Your ability to innovate and adapt to the evolving landscape of electronic design will be an asset to Cisco as we continue to sharpen our competitive edge. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

Minimum Qualifications

• BSME/BSEE or equivalent with typically 8+ years of experience bringing new products to market.
• Hands-on experience with interconnect and connector technologies at the application and component level, including fundamentals of associated PCB attach technologies.
•  Demonstrated effectiveness leading cross-functional teams of internal and external stakeholders to address and resolve performance and quality issues within large, complex programs — including mentoring junior engineers and effectively managing expectations with senior leadership and management teams.
•    Proficient in mechanical and electrical design principles, including tolerance analysis, fabrication methods, materials selection, plating, validation testing, and familiarity with Signal Integrity (SI) fundamentals.
•    Strong program management and leadership skills, with a track record of collaborating with leaders to identify business needs, align priorities, and achieve strategic objectives.

Preferred Qualifications

•     Experience with system-level design of networking equipment and the ability to decompose system requirements into interconnect-level specifications.
•     Familiarity with thermal management and liquid cooling considerations (e.g., coolant cables, cold-plate, leak detection, thermal interface materials (TIM), active cooling connectors).
•     Experience managing supplier relationships and implementing rigorous quality control measures to ensure product standards and reliability are consistently met.
•    Breadth across key areas of the interconnect commodity space — Mechanical Engineering, Signal Integrity, Test, Failure Analysis, Manufacturing, and PCB/PCBA fabrication and connector assembly techniques — or deep specialist expertise in connector design and qualification.
•     Competency in SPC, FMEA, 8D / Corrective Action, Cause-and-Effect Analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and risk assessment.
•     Experience with high-speed cable assemblies and their applications is a plus.
•     Prior manufacturing-facing experience is a plus.

S&TO 

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. 

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:

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

* 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.