Startups

Hardware Engineer

Cisco · San Jose, California, US · On-site

← All jobs
About Cisco

Cisco is a worldwide technology leader powering an inclusive future for all. Learn more about our products, services, solutions, and innovations. Backed by Sequoia and Menlo.

About the role

As a Senior Hardware Design Engineer, you will serve as a technical lead for the development of Cisco’s next-generation security hardware appliances. You will own the end-to-end hardware development lifecycle, from architectural definition to mass production. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, technical leadership, and the ability to drive innovation within a fast-paced environment.

What they're looking for

  • 4+ years of experience with a Masters’ degree or 7+ years of experience with a Bachelors’ degree. Experience expected to be in hardware design
  • Experience taking complex hardware products from concept to production
  • Experience with industry-standard design suites, such as Cadence Allegro/Concept, Mentor Graphics Xpedition, etc
More about this role

The application window is expected to close on: 10/22/2026

The Firewall Hardware Team at Cisco is responsible for designing and developing high-performance, secure firewall hardware platforms that protect enterprise, data center, and cloud networks from evolving cyber threats. This team focuses on creating advanced hardware solutions, including FPGA-based crypto accelerators and network processing units, to deliver exceptional throughput, low latency, and robust security features.

As a Senior Hardware Design Engineer, you will serve as a technical lead for the development of Cisco’s next-generation security hardware appliances. You will own the end-to-end hardware development lifecycle, from architectural definition to mass production. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, technical leadership, and the ability to drive innovation within a fast-paced environment. You will act as a subject matter expert, mentoring junior engineers and collaborating across global cross-functional teams to deliver carrier-grade products.

Key Responsibilities

  • Technical Leadership: Lead the hardware development lifecycle for complex, high-performance security appliances, ensuring alignment...

Read the full posting on Cisco's site ↗

Build your edge while you search

Free tools for founders and investors, plus VC Unfiltered, our take on startups, venture and the people who build them.