Senior Hardware Engineering Program Manager

This is an onsite position at the San Jose, CA location with Austin, TX as an alternative location.

About the team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, and hardware platforms—like Silicon One—are shaping the technology industry. We value diverse perspectives and foster an inclusive environment where every team member is empowered to share their ideas and drive meaningful outcomes.

Our CHG HW PMO team serves as the engine for Cisco’s hardware portfolio, redefining complex strategies into predictable, high-quality delivery through multi-functional governance and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead program management of large-scale, high-risk hardware products for Cisco with multiple interdependencies across functions, ensuring successful end-to-end delivery from concept to customer release.
• Orchestrate multi-functional activities by aligning hardware and software engineering, product management, and operations teams to ensure cohesive, high-quality execution.
• Drive complex problem-solving by interpreting current business trends to identify and implement innovative, strategic solutions for program delivery.
• Monitor program health, lead critical path roadmaps, risk mitigation, and necessary course corrections.
• Lead all aspects of budget preparations, resource allocation, and financial rigor to ensure effective utilization and alignment to business plans.
• Influence and persuade partners at all levels, providing executive-level status updates and strategic recommendations for maintaining relationships.
• Provide technical expertise and mentorship to engineering project management staff, fostering process improvements and the implementation of continuous integration methodologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering with 8+ years of experience or a master’s degree in engineering with 6+ years of experience in technical program management, or PhD with 3+ years.
• Demonstrated experience leading end-to-end, complex hardware programs with moderate to high risk and multiple multi-functional interdependencies.
• Experience in defining and delivering program plans, schedules, and budgets, including monitoring critical path activities and resource allocation.
• Experience in project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, MS Project) to track program metrics.
• Experience using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Codex, Claude) to improve the program management process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in Design Verification Testing (DVT) processes within complex hardware development lifecycles.
• Extensive knowledge of hardware manufacturing environments, production workflows, and supply chain operations.
• Strategic background in supply chain operations or procurement for large-scale hardware programs.
• Current program management certification (e.g., PMP, PgMP) reflecting advanced professional standards.
• Proven ability to communicate difficult concepts and influence outcomes across internal and external partner groups.
• Demonstrated expertise with leading multi-functional dependencies in fast-paced engineering environments.
• Familiarity with demonstrating advanced analytical tools and AI-enabled methodologies to optimize program management efficiency.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era—and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless.

We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere. We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Pay

The starting salary range for this position is $171,600.00 to $245,000.00 for new hires in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including incentive compensation, equity, or benefits. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location, market conditions, job-related skillset, experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and/or training. The full salary range for specific locations is listed below:

• New York City Metro Area: $171,600.00 - $281,800.00
• Non-Metro New York State & Washington State: $151,300.00 - $250,900.00

For quota-based sales roles on Cisco’s sales plan, the ranges provided include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Basic life insurance
• Restricted stock units (RSUs) with vesting periods
• Paid time off:
  • 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
  • 4 paid days off for personal wellness
  • Non-exempt employees: 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at 4.92 hours per pay period
  • Exempt employees: Flexible vacation time off with no defined limit (subject to business limitations)
  • 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, with up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward
  • Additional paid time away for critical or emergency family issues
  • Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
• Annual bonuses for non-sales roles (subject to Cisco’s policies)
• Sales roles: Performance-based incentive pay split between quota and non-quota components