Hardware Project Manager

The Network Hardware Engineering group (NHE) at Cisco creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for customers globally.

As a Hardware Project Manager, you will act as the primary orchestrator for next-generation platforms, driving the end-to-end product lifecycle while ensuring financial rigor and seamless alignment across our engineering and business partners.

Responsibilities:

• Steer end-to-end hardware program development from initial concept through customer release, defining clear priorities, breakthroughs, and comprehensive execution plans.
• Orchestrate complex, multi-functional programs by aligning hardware and software engineering, product management, and operations teams to ensure cohesive delivery.
• Proactively monitor program health, identify risks and dependencies, and drive timely issue resolution through actionable recommendations to partners.
• Champion continuous process improvements, governance frameworks, and the integration of automation and AI-enabled tools to enhance operational efficiency.
• Coordinate financial integrity and resource allocation, ensuring that budgets are tracked accurately and projects remain within scope and on schedule.
• Facilitate seamless collaboration between internal teams, manufacturing partners, and external suppliers while providing transparent status updates to leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science with 5+ years, or a master’s degree in engineering or computer science with 3+ years, of hardware or manufacturing program/project management or relevant experience.
• Experience applying Jira and Confluence to track project dependencies, risks, and issue resolution.
• Experience handling end-end programs including budget oversight, schedule management, and breakthrough tracking.
• Experience in advanced spreadsheet management, including the use of data modeling and visualization to track project metrics.
• Experience implementing AI-powered tools or workflows to improve operational efficiency or project delivery speed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with Design Verification Testing (DVT) processes within hardware development lifecycles
• Knowledge of hardware manufacturing environments and production workflows
• Background in supply chain operations or procurement strategies for complex hardware programs
• Current project management certification (e.g., PMP, CAPM, PRINCE2)
• Proven ability to navigate and influence outcomes in a highly matrixed, globally distributed organization
• Experience balancing rapid program execution with long-term operational and quality priorities
• Familiarity with managing cross-functional dependencies in fast-paced engineering environments

Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability coverage
• Basic life insurance
• 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
• Non-exempt employees receive 16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year
• Exempt employees participate in Cisco’s flexible vacation time off program
• 80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
• Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer