ASIC Verification Engineer - Acacia (Hybrid)

Job Title

ASIC Verification Engineer - Acacia (Hybrid)

Role Summary

Technical lead role on Cisco/Acacia ASIC verification for next-generation 100G–1.6T coherent optical communications products. The engineer will design and drive verification strategies, develop test benches, and mentor team members to ensure delivery of complex ASICs.

This is a hybrid role requiring three days per week on site at Cisco’s Maynard, MA office. The role emphasizes independent technical leadership, cross-team collaboration, and application of object-oriented verification methodologies.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Hiring guidance: candidates matching the stated minimum experience bands (examples: BSc +8 years, MSc +6 years, PhD +3 years) or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include planning, implementing, and overseeing ASIC verification activities for high-speed optical DSP ASICs.

• Lead development of detailed verification test plans and goals.
• Architect and implement verification test benches and environments.
• Apply advanced verification techniques to complex designs and ensure coverage closure.
• Supervise and coordinate execution of test plans across the verification team.
• Review verification code, coverage metrics, and results; drive corrective actions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentor engineers on verification methods and tools.
• Collaborate with design, firmware, and lab teams to integrate validation and silicon bring-up.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and attributes followed by preferred (nice-to-have) items.

• Must-have: Practical expertise in ASIC verification methodologies, tools, and scripting/programming.
• Must-have: Hands-on experience with SystemVerilog/UVM and SystemC.
• Must-have: Proficiency in C++ and familiarity with object-oriented verification methodologies.
• Must-have: Demonstrated ability to lead technical verification projects and mentor engineers.
• Preferred: Experience with in-house IP development and lab silicon validation.
• Preferred: Experience with DSP algorithms and modulation techniques (e.g., QAM) and with C++ templates.
• Preferred: Familiarity with Formal Verification tools/methodologies (e.g., Jasper, VCFormal).
• Preferred: Track record of process or tool innovations that improved verification efficiency or quality.

Education Requirements

Minimum qualifications listed: Bachelor's degree plus 8 years related experience, Master's degree plus 6 years related experience, or PhD plus 3 years related experience — or equivalent related work experience. (No specific field-of-study was mandated in the posting.)

About the Company

Company: Cisco Systems

Headquarters: San Jose, CA, United States

Cisco Systems is a global technology company that designs and sells networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, software, and services. It provides enterprise and service-provider networking, security, collaboration, and optical communications solutions (including Acacia Communications technologies for high-speed optical interconnects).