Hardware Engineer

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.

We are looking for a skilled and proactive FPGA Design Engineer with 3+ years of industry experience to manage and implement complex digital modules. This role requires proficiency in the full FPGA development lifecycle, including independent RTL coding, verification, high-speed design practices, and debugging on hardware. The Intermediate Engineer is expected to deliver production-quality, optimized designs and contribute directly to system-level integration. Key Responsibilities include:

• Module Ownership and Implementation: Take ownership of complex FPGA sub-modules, from micro-architecture definition to RTL implementation using Verilog/SystemVerilog or VHDL.

• Design Optimization: Actively optimize designs for performance (high clock speed), area utilization, and power consumption, particularly for large, resource-intensive blocks (e.g., DSP pipelines, memory controllers).

• Timing Closure: Independently apply and analyze timing constraints, resolve critical timing paths, and successfully achieve timing closure for major functional blocks within the FPGA.

• Verification: Develop and enhance functional testbenches, verification components, and behavioral models to ensure thorough testing of assigned blocks; participate in formal design and code reviews.

• System Integration: Integrate developed IP cores and third-party modules (e.g., PCIe, AXI, DDR) into the top-level FPGA design; actively define interfaces between the FPGA and other system components (e.g., CPU, memory, sensors).

• Hardware Debugging: Lead debugging efforts during lab integration and board bring-up using advanced tools like Integrated Logic Analyzer (ILA), high-speed oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.

• Scripting and Automation: Utilize Python and Tcl scripting to automate routine tasks within the synthesis/simulation flow and improve overall design efficiency.

• 3+ years of experience with a Masters' degree or 5+ years of experience with a Bachelors' degree. Experience expected to be in ASIC/FPGA design.

• Proficiency in end-to-end FPGA development process.

• Hands-on experience with EDA tools such as VCS, Spyglass, and nLint.

• Expertise in verifying complex blocks, clusters, and top-level designs.

• Practical knowledge of System Verilog constraints, structures, and classes.

• Familiarity with TCL and/or Python scripting for automation tasks.

• Strong domain expertise in one or more protocols, including PCIe, Ethernet, DMA, and DDR.

• In-depth knowledge of L2/L3/L4 networking protocols such as IPSec/DTLS, TLS, TCP/IP/UDP, and a deep understanding of cryptography technologies and algorithms such as AES-GCM/CBC, EDCHE RSA 2k, etc.

• A structured approach to design and effective problem-solving skills.

• Experience in x86 and ARM-based board design.

• Expertise in Ethernet interface design across various speeds (1G/10G/40G/100G/400G).

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.

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 certain locations is listed below. For locations not listed below, the recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees are offered benefits, subject to Cisco's plan eligibility rules, which include 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. Please see the Cisco careers site to discover more benefits and perks. Employees may be eligible to receive grants of Cisco restricted stock units, which vest following continued employment with Cisco for defined periods of time.

U.S. employees are eligible for paid time away as described below, subject to Cisco's policies:

• 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

• Non-exempt employees** receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees

• Exempt employees participate in Cisco's flexible vacation time off program, which has no defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use (subject to availability and some business limitations)

• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter, and up to 80 hours ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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

For non-sales roles, employees are also eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco's policies.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components, subject to the applicable Cisco plan. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

• .75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

• 1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

• 1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and

• Once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay 0% up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

The applicable full salary ranges for this position, by specific state, are listed below:

New York City Metro Area:

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

* For quota-based sales roles on Cisco's sales plan, the ranges provided in this posting include base pay and sales target incentive compensation combined.

** Employees in Illinois, whether exempt or non-exempt, will participate in a unique time off program to meet local requirements.