Laboratory Engineer

Cisco•San Jose, CA

5d•$123,000 - $194,500•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for an experienced Lab Engineer / Lab Administrator to manage and support our Hardware Development Lab, enabling the successful development, validation, and debugging of Engineering Validation Boards (EVBs) and next-generation networking hardware. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining a reliable, safe, and efficient lab environment while supporting engineers throughout the product development lifecycle. This role combines hands-on hardware management, lab infrastructure ownership, automation, and operational excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, or a related technical field and 5+ years of experience supporting hardware development laboratories or engineering environments.
Experience configuring and maintaining laboratory hardware and networking equipment.
Experience in Linux and Windows operating systems.
Experience with laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, multimeters, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
Experience troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting Engineering Validation Boards (EVBs) or networking hardware development.
Experience working with high-speed networking platforms
Experience managing hardware inventory and asset tracking systems.
Knowledge of ESD, ISO, and laboratory safety standards.
Experience with rack integration, structured cabling, and power distribution systems.
Familiarity with BMCs, serial consoles, JTAG, and hardware debug interfaces.
Experience working in a fast-paced R&D organization supporting multiple concurrent projects.

Responsibilities

Own the day-to-day operation of the Hardware Development Lab.
Design, build, and maintain lab infrastructure to support EVB development and validation activities.
Install, configure, and maintain lab equipment, including servers, switches, networking equipment, power supplies, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, thermal equipment, and measurement instruments.
Procure, rack, cable, label, and inventory lab equipment while maintaining accurate asset tracking.
Build and maintain engineering testbeds based on project requirements.
Support prototypes bring-up, debugging, validation, and hardware characterization activities.
Troubleshoot lab infrastructure issues, including networking, power, operating systems, and test equipment.
Work closely with Hardware, Mechanical, Electrical, Silicon, SI/PI, Thermal, and Validation engineers to optimize lab workflows and improve engineering productivity.
Develop and maintain scripts and automation tools to simplify repetitive lab tasks, equipment management, and test execution.
Maintain lab documentation, network topology diagrams, equipment inventory, calibration records, and operating procedures.
Ensure compliance with ESD, safety, calibration, security, and company quality standards.
Coordinate equipment calibration, maintenance, repairs, and vendor support.
Support engineering teams during critical project milestones and prototype builds.

Benefits

medical, dental and vision insurance
a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
paid parental leave
short and long-term disability coverage
basic life insurance
Cisco restricted stock units
10 paid holidays per full calendar year
1 floating holiday for non-exempt employees
1 paid day off for employee’s birthday
paid year-end holiday shutdown
4 paid days off for personal wellness
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year (non-exempt)
flexible vacation time off program (exempt)
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward
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
annual bonuses (for non-sales roles)
performance-based incentive pay (for sales roles)