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Senior Hardware Engineering Failure Analysis Technical Lead

Cisco SystemsMilpitas, Michigan

$191,400 - $281,400 / year

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Overview

Schedule
Full-time
Education
Engineering (PE)
Career level
Director
Remote
On-site
Compensation
$191,400-$281,400/year
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance

Job Description

The application window is expected to close on: 06/05/2026

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

Meet the Team

We are a close-knit team focused on hardware quality and failure analysis, within a larger hardware engineering organization which designs, implements, and delivers leading Switching and Routing products. The Common Hardware Group (CHG) delivers the silicon, optics, and hardware platforms for Cisco's core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products. We design the networking hardware for Enterprises and Service Providers of various sizes, the Public Sector, and Non-Profit Organizations across the world.

Cisco Silicon One (#CiscoSiliconOne) is the only unifying silicon architecture in the market that enables customers to deploy the best-of-breed silicon from Top of Rack (TOR) switches all the way through web scale data centers and across service providers, enterprise networks, and data centers with a fully unified routing and switching portfolio.

Your Impact

  • In this highly visible role as Senior Hardware Engineering Failure Analysis Technical Leader, you will lead complex failure analysis investigations on networking switches and router hardware.

  • Passion for technical failure investigations, hardware root cause analysis and quality engineering.

  • Possess an in-depth knowledge of networking products and high speed communication interfaces.

  • Conduct in-depth root cause analysis, and determination of contributing factors and corrective actions for improvement of field product quality, working with cross-functional domain leads and technical and operational teams.

  • Perform and guide fault reproduction, troubleshooting, system characterization, and root cause analysis of product issues, while ensuring efficient defect tracking and resolution.

  • Prepare comprehensive technical reports for customers and Cisco leadership detailing findings from product failure investigations, and recommended corrective and preventative actions.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering or related degree

  • 12+ years of experience in hardware board circuit and system design, troubleshooting, and failure analysis

  • Experience with high-speed signals and transmission technologies

  • Experience with electrical diagnostics and measurement equipment - oscilloscopes, digital multimeter, Logic Analyzers, Signal or Traffic generators etc.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with CPUs/embedded CPUs, FPGAs/PLDs and good understanding of control interfaces such as PCIe, MDIO, SPI, I2C

  • Experience with MS Excel and data collection / analysis

  • Familiarity with Python, PERL or similar scripting and execution languages

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 $191,400.00 to $281,400.00 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:

$191,400.00 - $323,600.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$176,100.00 - $287,900.00

* 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.

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FAQs About Senior Hardware Engineering Failure Analysis Technical Lead Jobs at Cisco Systems

What is the work location for this position at Cisco Systems?
This job at Cisco Systems is located in Milpitas, Michigan, 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 $191,400 and $281,400 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 education level is required for this job?
The education requirement for this position is Engineering (PE). Candidates with relevant qualifications or equivalent experience may also be considered.
What benefits are offered by Cisco Systems for this role?
Cisco Systems offers following benefits: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Holidays, Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Leave, Parental and Family Leave, Paid Community Service Time, Flexible/Unlimited PTO, 401k Matching/Retirement Savings, and Health & Wellness Programs for this position. Actual benefits may vary depending on the employer's policies and employment terms.
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.