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Hardware Engineer - 2010267

onsite at San Jose CA office

We are seeking an experienced System Level Test (SLT) Engineer to lead the design, automation, and validation of robust SLT solutions for High Volume Manufacturing (HVM) of complex, high-power, high-speed System-on-Chips (SOCs). You will play a critical role in developing and integrating automated test flows, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring seamless production test enablement and quality improvement across the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, automation, and validation of System Level Tests (SLT) tailored for HVM for cutting-edge, high-power, high-speed SOCs.

• Develop and integrate comprehensive test flows, scripts, and automation to maximize SLT coverage and enable seamless communication between test controllers and peripherals.

• Partner with system architecture, chip design, and validation teams to define production-ready SLT and HVM test solutions.

• Drive custom SLT development to optimize system performance, power efficiency, and test coverage for new and existing products.

• Oversee handler selection, enablement, and hardware integration—including PCB design, socket selection, and temperature control systems for efficient test environments.

• Enhance manufacturing test quality by improving test correlation, yield, and reliability across New Product Introduction (NPI), HVM, and Return Material Authorization (RMA) processes.

• Collaborate closely with OSATs (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test) on production enablement, sustaining operations, yield analysis, and DPPM (Defective Parts Per Million) reduction initiatives.

• Support silicon qualification and reliability testing (HTOL, Burn-in) at the system level to ensure robust and reliable product performance.

• Develop automated scripts to optimize test communication between controllers and peripherals.

• Lead SLT hardware integration projects, from PCB design to temperature control systems.

• Analyze yield data and implement improvements for higher reliability across NPI and HVM.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.

• Proven experience in system-level test development, automation, and validation for high-volume SOC manufacturing.

• Strong background in scripting (Python, Perl, etc.) and developing automated test frameworks.

• Hands-on experience with test hardware integration (PCB, sockets, temperature control, etc.).

• Familiarity with production test flows, NPI, HVM, RMA processes, and yield analysis.

• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with OSATs and managing handler enablement and hardware bring-up.

• Knowledge of silicon qualification and reliability methodologies (HTOL, Burn-in).

• Expertise in power/performance optimization and DPPM reduction in production environments.

• Candidates should have a strong background in both test automation and hardware integration for SOC products.

• Experience with high-power, high-speed environments and complex SOC architectures is essential.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and drive initiatives independently.

Si Ops

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.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $135,800.00 to $193,400.00 and reflects the projected salary range for new hires in this position 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 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 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

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:

$135,800.00 - $222,400.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$122,000.00 - $197,900.00

• 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.