Principal Hardware Architect – ASIC & System Integration, Cisco Silicon One (Hybrid)

Cisco•San Jose, CA

16d•Hybrid

About The Position

The application window is expected to close on: 11/26/2026. This role involves a hybrid work model, with a flexible in-office schedule that requires commuting to the San Jose, CA office. Cisco Silicon One is a business organization with a long track record of building complex and high-performance Silicon ASICs. Our silicon devices drive the world’s most complex networks and carry over 90% of IP traffic. Cisco Silicon One is the only unifying silicon architecture in the market that enables customers to deploy the best-of-breed silicon from Top of Rack (TOR) switches all the way through web scale data centers and across service provider, enterprise networks, and data centers with a fully unified routing and switching portfolio. We are a highly specialized ASIC team with experts in all aspects of advanced IC package design and heterogeneous system integration. Our substrates use the latest 2.5D fanout technologies for large-scale integration, using the latest signaling and data transfer technologies. Come join us and take part in shaping Cisco's ground-breaking solutions by designing, developing and testing some of the most complex ASICs being developed in the industry! We are seeking a Principal Hardware Engineer to serve as a key technical authority within our networking organization. This role transcends individual product lines, positioning you to drive architectural strategy across internal cross-functional groups and our most strategic customer accounts. You will act as the vital link between cutting-edge innovation and real-world market success, shaping the future of our product portfolio from initial concept to field deployment. The target technology area goes beyond a single product or product line, and will require working with multiple groups inside Cisco, and customers. This position requires high skill levels in architecture, implementation, design, evangelize, marketing support, and account team engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and 15+ years of relevant signal and power integrity experience, or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering and 12+ years of relevant signal and power integrity experience, or PhD in Electrical Engineering and 8+ years of relevant signal and power integrity experience.
At least 5 years’ experience driving System Architecture of hardware systems, including tradeoffs between signal integrity, power integrity, thermal design, total power consumption, cost and schedule.
At least 5 years experience driving cross-functional buy-in and approval of complex strategic programs with interior executive management (concept commit, architectural commit, execution commit).
At least 5 years experience generating, driving cross-functional review of and presenting customer-facing materials for strategic projects.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrates impactful proficiency in system architecture, hardware, and software design, including FPGA and ASIC design and verification, system bring-up and debug, and thermal design.
Exhibits effective skills in articulating complex ideas and technical concepts clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Possesses successful documentation and organizational capabilities, adept at defining workflows that clarify priorities, setting meeting agendas, recording, and distributing notes, and driving tradeoffs to resolution with key stakeholders.
Demonstrates leadership excellence with experience building and nurturing technical relationships across customer architects, software teams, and Cisco cloud, data center, and network product teams and partners.
Excels in communication, with experience developing presentations, whitepapers, and architectural documents in collaboration with platform engineering.
Skilled in customer presentations, preparing thoroughly and responding dynamically to guide discussions positively.
Exhibits exceptional decision-making, conflict resolution, perseverance, and follow-through to ensure successful outcomes.

Responsibilities

Actively participate in engagements with current and potential customers.
Ensure feedback from customers is incorporated into future products, working with product management and engineering.
Work with product marketing on future product architectures.
Actively participates in standards committees to influence industry practices.
Work with hardware, software and test engineering to deliver quality products to the field.
Work with external vendors to ensure they can deliver products which meet our needs for future products.
Support customer demonstrations at internal labs, demo labs, and/or trade shows and conferences.
Author/co-author white papers and user tutorials for the Marketplace.
Collaborate with Field Solutions and CSE teams to leverage expertise and scaling potential.
Provide technical TOI and NPI training in various customer-oriented events.

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
grants of Cisco restricted stock units
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
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees (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 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
annual bonuses
performance-based incentive pay