Cisco Systems logo

HW board design Team Leader

Cisco SystemsSan Jose, California

$165,000 - $241,400 / year

Automate your job search with Sonara.

Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.1

Reclaim your time by letting our AI handle the grunt work of job searching.

We continuously scan millions of openings to find your top matches.

pay-wall

Overview

Schedule
Full-time
Education
Engineering (PE)
Career level
Director
Compensation
$165,000-$241,400/year
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance

Job Description

The application window is expected to close on: 04/03/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

Meet the team:

The Hardware Team Lead is responsible for leading the hardware development team through all phases of product design, from concept and architecture to production and support. This role combines strong technical expertise with leadership, planning, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead and mentor the hardware engineering team

  • Define hardware architecture and design strategy

  • Oversee schematic design, PCB layout, and component selection

  • Review designs for quality, reliability, cost, and manufacturability (DFM/DFT)

  • Manage schedules, task prioritization, and resource allocation

  • Work closely with FW, SW, mechanical, QA, and manufacturing teams

  • Support prototype bring-up, debugging, and validation

  • Drive design reviews, risk analysis, and technical decision-making

  • Ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering with 7+ years of experience in hardware design and development.

  • Prior experience with digital, analog, and power circuit design

  • Prior experience with PCB design tools and review of complex layouts

  • Prior experience with signal integrity, power integrity

  • Hands-on experience with lab equipment (scope, logic analyzer, etc.)

Preferred Experience:

  • Prior experience supporting manufacturing and working with suppliers

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 $165,000.00 to $241,400.00 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:

$165,000.00 - $277,600.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$146,700.00 - $247,000.00

* 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.

Automate your job search with Sonara.

Submit 10x as many applications with less effort than one manual application.

pay-wall

FAQs About HW board design Team Leader Jobs at Cisco Systems

What is the work location for this position at Cisco Systems?
This job at Cisco Systems is located in San Jose, California, according to the details provided by the employer. Some roles may also include multiple work locations depending on the requirement.
What pay range can candidates expect for this role at Cisco Systems?
Candidates can expect a pay range of $165,000 and $241,400 per year.
What employment applies to this position at Cisco Systems?
Cisco Systems lists this role as a Full-time position.
What experience level is required for this role at Cisco Systems?
Cisco Systems is looking for a candidate with "Director" experience level.
What is the process to apply for this position at Cisco Systems?
You can apply for this role at Cisco Systems either through Sonara's automated application system, which helps you submit applications 10X faster with minimal effort, or by applying manually using the direct link on the job page.