Hardware Security Engineer - Hyperscaler Security Hybrid

Cisco•Research Triangle Park, NC

4d•$132,800 - $185,100•Hybrid

About The Position

The Hardware Security Engineer will focus on Hyperscaler Security, helping ensure Cisco’s next-generation platforms and custom Hyperscaler hardware architectures meet rigorous security, trust, and resilience standards. The role analyzes systems from high-level architecture through component-level silicon and guides multifunctional engineering teams and external partners in delivering secure hardware solutions. The engineer evaluates system-level hardware designs, schematics, board architectures, and component datasheets for threat vectors, vulnerabilities, and compliance gaps. The role interprets and applies industry standards and regulatory frameworks, including NIST SP 800-193, NSA CNSA 2.0, the EU Cyber Resilience Act, and Cisco’s internal Hardware Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle mandates. It provides actionable security requirements and architectural guidance to product teams, hardware design engineers, firmware and BIOS teams, and third-party vendors; authors security requirements and technical collateral; and participates in or manages concurrent security evaluations, design reviews, and compliance workstreams across hardware programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field with 7 or more years of relevant experience; alternatively, a Master’s degree with 4 or more years of experience, or a PhD with 1 or more year of relevant experience.
Prior hardware development background, such as reading and interpreting system-level schematics, block diagrams, component datasheets, PCB designs or reviews, or register-level hardware documentation.
Prior background in hardware security fundamentals, such as Hardware Root of Trust, Secure Boot, hardware and firmware resiliency, cryptographic primitives (symmetric/asymmetric encryption, hashing, digital signatures), or secure key storage.
Ability to collaborate across disciplines, communicate technical concepts clearly through engineering documentation and collaboration, and drive multiple parallel technical initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Experience crafting, implementing, or evaluating hardware-rooted attestation architectures and device identity mechanisms, such as SPDM or TCG DICE.
Experience with Hyperscaler and cloud platform architectures, such as OCP specifications, OpenBMC, Caliptra, OpenTitan, or OpenPRoT.
Experience implementing industry-standard security IP or developing hardware security solutions, such as FPGA bitstream security, secure microcontroller architectures, Hardware Root of Trust, or bus encryption.
Experience with hardware threat modeling or hardware security analysis, such as fault injection, side-channel analysis, or JTAG/debug security.
Background in hardware security frameworks and standards, such as NIST SP 800-193, NSA CNSA 2.0, TCG DICE/TPM, or cybersecurity regulations such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act.

Responsibilities

Evaluate system-level hardware designs, schematics, board architectures, and component datasheets to identify threat vectors, vulnerabilities, and compliance gaps.
Interpret, apply, and establish requirements aligned with industry standards and compliance frameworks, including NIST SP 800-193, NSA CNSA 2.0, the EU Cyber Resilience Act, and internal Hardware Cisco Secure Development Lifecycle mandates.
Provide technical advice, actionable security requirements, and architectural design guidance to product teams, hardware design engineers, firmware/BIOS teams, and third-party vendors.
Author hardware security requirements, review checklists, threat models, compliance white papers, and engineering specifications for internal and external audiences.
Participate in and manage multiple concurrent security evaluations, design reviews, and compliance workstreams across hardware programs.

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 vesting conditions
10 paid holidays per full calendar year, plus one floating holiday for non-exempt employees
Paid day off for employee’s birthday
Paid year-end holiday shutdown
Four paid personal wellness days
Paid vacation or flexible vacation time off, depending on employee classification
80 hours of sick time off 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 issues
Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year
Annual bonuses for eligible non-sales employees