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

Meet the Team

Cisco’s Client Optics Group (COG) designs & delivers the high-speed optical transceivers, and platforms that power Cisco's core data center networking solutions. We specialize in the design and integration of innovative IM/DD optics and silicon photonic platforms that enable customers to deploy industry-leading optical technologies within data centers with unprecedented speed, capacity, and reliability. Come join us and take part in shaping COG’s ground-breaking optical solutions by designing, developing, and testing some of the most advanced pluggable, and Co-packaged Optics (CPO) being developed in the industry.

You will work with Cisco's best-in-class Silicon Photonics team. Our team is responsible for driving the development and optimization of optical transceivers & modules (800G,1.6T & beyond) that seamlessly integrate with Cisco's routing, switching, and datacenter platforms, enabling customers to build scalable, high-performance networks that support emerging technologies including AI/ML workloads, and next-generation data center architectures.

We are seeking a hardworking and experienced ASIC Link Modeling Engineer to join our team and be a collaborative modeler for Cisco's silicon photonics systems for next generation products for 100/200/400G per Lambda solutions. You will be a part of a wider team architecting and modeling high-speed SerDes, optical DSP (ODSP), die-to-die (D2D) interfaces, receive and transmit paths in silicon photonics modules and CPO/NPO solutions.

Your Impact

• Develop system-level behavioral models and comprehensive link simulations for Cisco's silicon photonics systems, enabling performance analysis across high-speed SerDes, optical DSP, and die-to-die interfaces for next-generation 100G/200G/400G per Lambda solutions.

• Lead link budget analysis, channel modeling, and statistical simulations to evaluate jitter, noise, crosstalk, and bit error rate (BER) across transmit and receive paths.

• Define and optimize transceiver architectures including TX/RX equalization (FFE, CTLE, DFE), clock and data recovery behavior, and DSP algorithms through behavioral modeling and simulation.

• Debug complex link simulations, identify architectural bottlenecks, and correlate pre-silicon models with post-silicon lab measurements to validate design performance.

• Collaborate across cross-functional teams to develop IBIS-AMI models, create modeling documentation, and support product release from concept through production.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors + 12 years of related experience, or Masters + 8 years of related experience, or PhD + 5 years of ASIC link modeling experience

• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, and MATLAB for behavioral model development and automated analysis

• Proven understanding of high-speed communication theory, transmission line theory, SerDes, Ethernet, D2D PHY protocols, and DSP fundamentals

• Demonstrated experience with EDA and SI simulation tools (e.g., Keysight ADS, Synopsys HSPICE, Cadence) and link modeling methodologies

• Analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills with excellent communication and teamwork abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred experience 8-12 years.

• Experience with optical DSP (ODSP), integrated transceiver features, and PAM4 modulation techniques

• Familiarity with IBIS-AMI model development to support customer & system-level signal integrity simulations

• Experience with Linux-based development environments and scripting automation (Perl, TCL)

• Knowledge of ASIC/SoC design flow, understanding of multi-functional impacts on link performance (packaging, PCB, optics)

• Post-silicon validation experience and correlation of lab measurements with pre-silicon models

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 $189,300.00 to $271,500.00 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:

$210,600.00 - $350,800.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$189,300.00 - $312,200.00

* 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.