Hardware Post-Silicon Validation Engineer (Hybrid)

About the role

The Post-Silicon Validation Team at Cisco is seeking a Hardware Post-Silicon Validation Engineer with experience in lab-intensive hardware validation. This role focuses on hands-on work in silicon validation labs, driving early-silicon bring-up, performing advanced electrical and protocol measurements, and owning end-to-end root-cause analysis of silicon, package, and board-level issues.

Responsibilities

• Test and debug of high-performance networking silicon
• Define, execute, and refine detailed hardware validation plans covering functionality characterization, performance, and reliability
• Support power-on sequencing, reset strategy validation, clock bring-up, and strap configuration
• Perform in-depth voltage, current, power integrity (PDN), and signal integrity analysis
• Independently isolate and root-cause silicon, package, board, or signal integrity issues
• Validate Ethernet MAC/PHY and high-speed interfaces such as PCIe and SerDes
• Develop and maintain lab automation using scripts and frameworks (e.g., Python)
• Plan and execute thermal testing using chambers and chillers across operating ranges

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of experience in post-silicon electrical validation, hardware bring-up and lab-based silicon debug
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of experience in post-silicon electrical validation, hardware bring-up and lab-based silicon debug
• PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field and 0+ years of experience in post-silicon electrical validation, hardware bring-up and lab-based silicon debug
• Experience in electronics, digital logic, signal integrity, and power integrity
• Experience in high-speed measurement techniques (eye diagrams, BER, jitter, compliance testing)
• Experience with interfaces such as DDR5, USB 3.x, SGMII, PCIe, USB2.0, eMMC, SPI, MDIO, I2C, and UART
• Experience working independently, lead, plan and execute lab-based debug efforts
• Hands-on experience with silicon bring-up and post-silicon validation labs
• Scripting skills for lab automation and data analysis (Python preferred)
• Understanding of networking fundamentals and packet-based systems

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of experience in post-silicon electrical validation, hardware bring-up and lab-based silicon debug
• Preferred Qualifications: Experience working independently, lead, plan and execute lab-based debug efforts; Hands-on experience with silicon bring-up and post-silicon validation labs; Scripting skills for lab automation and data analysis (Python preferred); Understanding of networking fundamentals and packet-based systems

Skills

• Advanced-level operation of oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, VNAs, protocol analyzers, BERTs, and multimeters
• Develop and maintain lab automation using scripts and frameworks (e.g., Python)
• Plan and execute thermal testing using chambers and chillers across operating ranges

Benefits

At Cisco, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability coverage, and basic life insurance. Additional benefits include paid holidays, paid year-end holiday shutdown, and personal wellness days. Employees may also earn annual bonuses based on performance and participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $155,000.00 to $222,600.00, reflecting the projected salary range for new hires in U.S. and Canadian locations. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training.

Schedule

Cisco operates on a standard Monday-Friday schedule with occasional evening or weekend work required for project needs.