Hardware Engineer – Cisco
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Meet the Team
The Firewall Hardware Team at Cisco is responsible for designing and developing high‑performance, secure firewall hardware platforms that protect enterprise, data center, and cloud networks from evolving cyber threats. This team focuses on creating advanced hardware solutions, including FPGA‑based crypto accelerators and network processing units, to deliver exceptional throughput, low latency, and robust security features.
Your Impact
Responsibilities
- Take ownership of complex FPGA sub‑modules from micro‑architecture definition to RTL implementation using Verilog/SystemVerilog or VHDL.
- Actively optimize designs for performance, area utilization, and power consumption, particularly for large, resource‑intensive blocks such as DSP pipelines and memory controllers.
- Apply and analyze timing constraints, resolve critical paths, and achieve timing closure for major functional blocks within the FPGA.
- Develop and enhance functional testbenches, verification components, and behavioral models; participate in formal design and code reviews.
- Integrate IP cores and third‑party modules (PCIe, AXI, DDR) into the top‑level FPGA design and define interfaces with system components.
- Lead debugging efforts during lab integration and board bring‑up using tools like ILA, high‑speed oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers.
- Automate routine tasks in the synthesis/simulation flow with Python and TCL scripting to improve design efficiency.
Minimum Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience (Masters’ degree) or 5+ years with a Bachelor’s degree in ASIC/FPGA design.
- Proficiency in end‑to‑end FPGA development—RTL coding, verification, synthesis, timing closure, and debugging.
- Hands‑on experience with EDA tools such as VCS, Spyglass, and nLint.
- Expertise verifying complex blocks, clusters, and top‑level designs.
- Practical knowledge of SystemVerilog constraints, structures, and classes.
- Familiarity with TCL and/or Python scripting for automation tasks.
Preferred Qualifications
- Domain expertise in protocols such as PCIe, Ethernet, DMA, and DDR.
- In‑depth knowledge of L2/L3/L4 networking protocols (IPSec, DTLS, TLS, TCP/UDP) and cryptography technologies (AES‑GCM/CBC, EDCHE RSA‑2k, etc.).
- Structured design approach and strong problem‑solving skills.
- Experience designing x86 and ARM‑based boards.
- Expertise in Ethernet interface design across speeds 1G/10G/40G/100G/400G.
Why Cisco?
At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era—proving our impact across the entire digital footprint. We experiment, create meaningful solutions, and offer limitless growth opportunities as part of a global network of experts.
Compensation & Benefits
Starting salary range: $135,800.00–$193,400.00 (U.S./Canada). Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, paid parental leave, disability coverage, life insurance, stock units, paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. U.S. employees may also receive annual bonuses. Salary varies by location; see Cisco careers page for details.