Hardware (Signal Integrity) Engineer
About The Position
The Networking Hardware Engineering group develops hardware platforms for Cisco’s Switching, Routing, and Wireless products. The Signal Integrity team designs and develops next-generation Security Firewall products and Campus and Data Center Routing systems. The Signal Integrity Engineer contributes to PCB design, simulation, and validation involving high-speed SerDes, DDR/LPDDR, and power delivery networks, working with experienced engineers and cross-functional teams. The role supports high-speed digital and analog systems from concept through production, including simulation, analysis, prototype bring-up, system-level validation, and troubleshooting. It also involves collaborating with hardware, layout, and validation teams to resolve technical issues, and documenting results and correlating simulation data with laboratory measurements. This position is onsite in RTP, North Carolina.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or a related field and at least 5 years of relevant experience; or a master’s degree in one of these fields or a related field and at least 3 years of relevant experience.
- Experience with high-speed SerDes technologies such as PAM4 or NRZ, including some combination of simulation, bring-up, debugging, measurements, or optimization.
- Experience with electromagnetic or signal integrity simulation tools, including 2D/3D field solvers on comparable platforms such as Ansys HFSS, Cadence Clarity, Sigrity, or Siemens HyperLynx.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with IBIS, HSPICE, ADS, MATLAB, Cadence PowerSI AC/DC, or Allegro.
- Familiarity with clock-signal I/O standards such as LVDS, LVPECL, and HCSL.
- Working experience with DDR5/LPDDR5, NRZ and PAM4 SerDes, high-speed PCB/package development, and power integrity analysis.
- Thorough knowledge of PCB stack-up design, including standard processes, PCB material performance, surface finishes, vendor capabilities, and manufacturing trade-offs.
- Hands-on exposure to laboratory measurements using real-time and sampling oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, VNAs, and TDRs.
- Good understanding of electromagnetic and transmission-line concepts, timing, jitter, crosstalk, noise, channel modeling, channel equalization, power delivery, and decoupling.
Responsibilities
- Assist in the design and analysis of high-speed digital and analog systems from concept through production.
- Perform signal integrity simulations using industry-standard tools.
- Model and analyze power delivery networks to support signal integrity and system reliability.
- Optimize pre-route and post-route signal integrity analysis of PCBs.
- Support prototype functional bring-up, system-level validation, and troubleshooting.
- Collaborate with hardware, layout, and validation teams to resolve technical issues.
- Contribute to documentation, data analysis, and correlation of simulation results with laboratory measurements.
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
- Restricted stock unit grants may be available, subject to eligibility and continued employment
- Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees
- Birthday paid day off
- Paid year-end holiday shutdown
- Personal wellness days
- Paid vacation or flexible vacation time off, depending on employee classification
- Sick time off
- Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues
- Optional paid volunteer time
- Annual bonuses may be available for non-sales roles
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
