Hardware Engineer
US$138,000 – US$196,500 / yr base salary
Posted 31 Aug 2026
Advertised as “Hardware Engineer (Transceiver Module Group)”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Expected experience
- 3–5 yrs
- Management level
- Individual contributor
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$138,000 – US$196,500 / yr |
|---|
CertificationsCCNA
Field of studyComputer Engineering, Electrical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's or higher
The application window is expected to close on: 08/29/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
This is an onsite position and the employee will be required to work out of San Jose, CA location.
Meet the Team
The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, and hardware platforms—like Silicon One—are shaping the technology industry.
The Transceiver Module Group (TMG) within CHG is a collaborative and multi-functional product development and sustaining team responsible for defining and implementing specifications, test procedures, and validation of optical interconnection technologies ranging from 100Mbit/s to 1.6Tbit/s. As optics are the critical backbone of AI infrastructure, our team is at the forefront of this evolution, ensuring the seamless integration of high-performance modules across a vast portfolio of Cisco switches and systems.
Your Impact
Our team is a center of excellence in several areas such as optical and electrical high-speed characterization, definition and management of interactions between optics and systems.
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Develop and implement comprehensive test and configuration strategies for new optical module transceiver products to ensure robust performance.
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Investigate complex technical issues by performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions for hardware-software interactions at the system level.
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Build and maintain automation tools and scripts (e.g., Python, LabVIEW, etc.) and leverage AI methodologies to enhance test efficiency and accelerate data analysis.
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Conduct lab operations using electrical and optical test equipment, including optical attenuators, switches, I2C analyzers, digital multi-meters, traffic generators, and oscilloscopes.
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Characterize module low-speed IO and electrical timing using knowledge of EEPROM programming, digital logic, and the Common Management Interface Specification (CMIS).
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Partner with multi-functional engineering teams and external suppliers to ensure high-quality product designs that meet industry standards and perform reliably across Cisco switches and systems.
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Author clear test reports and present complex technical data to multi-functional partners to facilitate informed decision-making.