Hardware Engineer - FPGA

Job Title

Hardware Engineer - FPGA

Role Summary

Senior FPGA designer on the High‑End Routing team (ASR8000) within Cisco’s Common Hardware Group. You will implement control‑path FPGA logic from system requirements through production, validate hardware, and coordinate cross‑functional delivery.

This is an onsite role at Cisco’s Milpitas office (minimum 4 days/week).

Experience Level

Senior-level. Typical guidance: Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering (or relevant) +7+ years experience, or Master’s +4+ years experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Translate networking system requirements into FPGA functional blocks and RTL specifications.
• Design and implement RTL (Verilog/SystemVerilog), run simulations, and perform timing closure.
• Generate FPGA programming files and validate firmware/bitstreams on hardware.
• Perform system-level debug and root-cause analysis across hardware and software boundaries.
• Coordinate with Diagnostics, Software, Board Design, Manufacturing, and Hardware Qualification teams to enable smooth delivery.
• Lead design and review meetings, track issues, and drive resolutions to meet project schedules.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience:

• Proven FPGA or ASIC development from specification to production.
• Strong Verilog/SystemVerilog RTL coding and simulation experience.
• Experience with industry FPGA devices and vendor toolflows; familiarity with timing constraints and closure.
• Practical system-level debugging skills and ability to work across hardware and software teams.
• Ability to communicate clearly, lead technical discussions, and drive cross-functional outcomes.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with UVM and/or VMM verification methodologies.
• High-speed design debug and advanced microprocessor-based design experience.
• Low-level networking card debug and CPU peripheral architecture knowledge.

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or a relevant technical field with 7+ years of related experience, or Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or a relevant technical field with 4+ years of related experience. Relevant technical degrees and certifications were referenced; no alternative-equivalent language was provided.

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).