Director - Engineering, High Speed SerDes & Analog / Mixed-Signal (Silicon One Optics Group)

Cisco•Upper Macungie Township, PA

10d•$220,900 - $380,000

About The Position

The Director will establish and lead a high-performance engineering design team in the United States and India for Cisco’s Client Optics Group (COG), driving end-to-end development of optical transceivers based on silicon-photonics transceiver chipsets and modules. The role oversees architecture, development, simulation, diagnostics, bring-up, and validation of electronics ICs paired with silicon photonics ICs. A key focus is deploying AI tools where possible to improve productivity, quality, and development cycle times. The Director evaluates marketing requirements and advises on product approach, timelines, and feasibility; participates in Cisco’s product lifecycle milestones; and works with program management on schedules and resource plans. The role oversees electronics IC and chipset development and documentation, ensures strong analog-design practices, and uses analytics and AI/ML to improve test strategies, coverage, debugging, and fault isolation. The position partners with digital design, signal and power integrity, layout, silicon characterization, product management, and operations teams. It also fosters an inclusive, collaborative, and accountable culture, mentors high-performing global teams, and promotes continuous learning and effective use of AI-assisted development tools.

Requirements

15+ years of high-speed electronics experience, including management of global teams.
Master’s or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field, or related work experience focused on semiconductor and/or optics development.
Extensive experience in mixed-signal/analog electronics, including drivers, TIAs, ADCs, TX/RX equalizers, and CDRs.
Experience with digital signal processors (DSP).
Experience with optical/photonics ICs or similar technologies, including modulators, photodetectors, grating couplers, and waveguides.
Experience with high-speed SerDes at 112Gbps, 224Gbps, and 448Gbps using PAM4/PAM6.
Experience with signal and power integrity and channel modeling.
Experience with advanced packaging, including fine-pitch and low-parasitic chip-to-chip interconnects.
Experience with PLLs, clock domains and distribution, and power distribution.
Experience with silicon diagnostics, test coverage, and DFT.
Experience with electrical, optical, and co-simulation applications and tools.
Experience with silicon validation and test equipment.
Demonstrated ability to lead large teams and motivate members toward successful outcomes.
Expertise in mixed-signal/analog electronics and silicon photonics, with a record of timely delivery and first-pass success.
History of advocating for and driving adoption of AI tools to accelerate development and improve productivity.
Strong collaboration and mentoring skills, with a commitment to building high-performing, innovative teams.

Nice To Haves

Advanced understanding of silicon manufacturing processes, photonics development leadership, and automation.
Experience defining optical transceiver silicon and module architectures at 200Gbps/lane and 400Gbps/lane.
Good understanding of MSA standards such as QSFP/QSFP-DD and IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specifications.
Strong communication skills, global team management experience, and executive presence.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead a high-performance engineering design team in the United States and India for Cisco’s Client Optics Group.
Drive end-to-end execution of optical transceiver development for silicon-photonics-based transceiver chipsets and modules.
Oversee architecture, development, simulation, diagnostics, bring-up, and validation of electronics ICs paired with silicon photonics ICs.
Evaluate Marketing Requirements Documents and provide timely guidance on product approach, timelines, and feasibility.
Participate in Cisco product lifecycle milestones, including Concept Commits and Engineering Commits.
Work with the COG Program Management Team to develop and maintain program schedules and resource plans.
Drive adoption of AI tools to enhance productivity, quality, and development speed.
Oversee the design, development, delivery, and documentation of electronics ICs and chipsets through team leaders.
Ensure the Analog Design team follows best practices for design, custom layout, simulation, validation, characterization, and documentation.
Apply analytics and AI/ML to stimulate edge cases, optimize test strategies, and improve test coverage, usability, debugging, and fault isolation.
Partner with digital design, SI/PI, layout, silicon characterization, product management, and operations teams to align work and deliver programs successfully.
Foster a collaborative, innovative, accountable, and inclusive culture and promote guidelines and knowledge sharing across global teams.
Mentor and develop high-performing teams, emphasizing continuous learning in silicon development and effective use of AI-assisted development tools.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) plan with Cisco matching contribution
Paid parental leave
Short- and long-term disability coverage
Basic life insurance
Cisco restricted stock unit grants may be available, subject to eligibility and continued employment
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
One floating holiday for non-exempt employees
Paid birthday day off
Paid year-end holiday shutdown
Four paid personal wellness days
Paid vacation for non-exempt employees; exempt employees participate in a flexible vacation time-off program
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire and each January 1, with up to 80 unused hours carried forward
Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family-member issues
Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year
Annual bonuses may be available for non-sales roles, subject to Cisco policies