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The application window is expected to close on: December 12, 2025.

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

This role requires being onsite in San Jose 4+ days/week.

Meet the Team

We are the Service Provider (SP) Mechanical and Thermal team responsible for the design of Cisco’s best high-performance, provider class routers, the Cisco 8000 series. The Cisco 8000 series utilizes Cisco’s revolutionary Silicon One ASIC that delivers unmatched performance and density with feature-rich functionality.

We are transforming the industry and building a new internet for AI networks and the 5G era, providing a unified, programmable silicon architecture that is the foundation of all Cisco's future routing products.

Our devices are designed to be universally adaptable across service providers and web-scale markets, designed for fixed and modular platforms. Our devices deliver high speed without sacrificing programmability, buffering, power efficiency, scale or feature flexibility.

You'll be part of our group driving our game-changing next-generation network devices built with Cisco Silicon One™.

Your Impact

In this role, you will have the opportunity to work in the platform engineering mechanical team in San Jose, CA. The job involves working on current and next-generation mechanical designs of telecom systems. You will be part of a dedicated team, working in a dynamic environment. Open communication, empowerment, innovation, teamwork, and customer success are the foundations of the team.

Key responsibilities:

+ Provide leadership and problem-solving expertise for mechanical testing at a part or system level.

+ Lead/mentor other engineers and convey technical guidance to resolve complex projects/issues.

+ Architect, design, and deliver system mechanical designs as specified by product requirements.

+ Demonstrate a high degree of originality and innovation in defining product and project level architecture.

+ Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with cross-functional team members to achieve project goals.

Minimum Qualifications:

+ Bachelor’s in Engineering + 12 years of related industry experience or Master’s degree in Engineering + 8 years of related industry experience.

+ Expert in use of 3D MCAD tools (such as Creo/Siemens NX).

+ Extensive sheet metal enclosure design experience (for example with fixed or modular chassis).

+ Demonstrated expertise in using GD&T and performing tolerance analysis.

+ Expertise with sheet metal manufacturing (soft and hard tooling).

Preferred Qualifications:

+ 5+ years of relevant experience in the design of compute/networking products.

+ Relevant experience in the mechanical design of computer/network equipment designed to operate in data centers.

+ Experience in plastic and die-casting design and tooling.

+ Broad knowledge of applicable cross-functional design fields: PCB layout, EMI, safety, and thermal.

+ Experience in structural analysis using Finite Element Analysis tools, such as PTC Creo Simulate or Ansys.

+ Thermal system design experience: heat sinks, heat pipes, vapor chambers; familiarity with chillers and thermoelectric plates.

+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills and people skills; ability to interact with management, team members, and external vendors.

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.

+ 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.

Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.