# ASIC Optical Hardware Systems Test Engineer

**Company**: Cisco
**Location**: San Jose, California
**Experience**: senior
**Job type**: full-time
**Salary**: $167,700.00 - $245,200.00
**Category**: Engineering
**Industry**: Technology

**Apply**: https://cisco.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Cisco_Careers/job/San-Jose-California-US/Optical-Hardware-Systems-Test-Engineer_2025656?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply
**Canonical**: https://yubhub.co/job/asic-optical-hardware-systems-test-engineer-88e92a7d-84d/

## Description

Cisco Systems is seeking an ASIC Optical Hardware Systems Test Engineer to validate and ensure the quality of next-generation networking platforms, including switches, routers, and data center systems.

In this high-impact role, you will be hands-on in the lab leading the testing, validation, and bring-up of next-generation networking systems integrating ultra-high-speed silicon and advanced optics. You will play a pivotal role in validating groundbreaking 112G/224G PAM4 SerDes channels, high-density Data Center Interconnects (DCI), and emerging Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) architectures.

Responsibilities:

- Lead hands-on bring-up, validation, and characterization of Silicon One ASICs integrated with high-speed optical transceivers and emerging Co-Packaged / Near-Packaged Optics (CPO/NPO) engines.

- Measure and characterize high-speed electro-optic channels across 112G/224G PAM4 SerDes and optical links, evaluating eye quality, bit error rate (BER), and link margins.

- Develop and maintain Python, C/C++ or similar language test automation scripts and programs to control high-speed lab equipment (oscilloscopes, BERTs, optical spectrum analyzers, power meters) and automate test workflows.

- Perform system stress testing across temperature, voltage, and traffic corners to ensure link stability and operating margins under full system loads.

- Debug and root-cause sophisticated hardware, signal integrity, and optical link issues during prototype bring-up and system validation.

- Partner multi-functionally with ASIC architecture, signal integrity, board design, software/diagnostics, and manufacturing teams from early silicon bring-up through production release.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering, Photonics, Computer Engineering, or related technical field with 7+ years of relevant industry experience (or Master's with 4+ years, PhD with 1+ years).

- Hands-on experience in lab bring-up, system-level validation, and hardware testing of high-speed networking systems or electro-optic hardware.

- Strong understanding of optical transceivers, optical link budgets, high-speed SerDes (56G/112G+ PAM4), and bit error rate testing.

- Experience using standard lab instrumentation (VNAs, TDR, sampling scopes, BERTs, optical power meters, spectrum analyzers).

Preferred Qualifications:

- Familiarity with Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), Near-Packaged Optics (NPO), or Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO).

- Deep Expertise with high-speed interfaces, Ethernet standards (IEEE 802.3 400G/800G), PCIe and optical transceiver management interfaces.

- Experience with thermal characterization of high-power silicon using liquid cooling plates, thermal chambers, or automated handlers.

- Prior experience with Cisco Silicon One or high-performance data center switching architectures.

- Proficiency in Python scripting for lab test automation, instrument control, and data analysis.

- Analytical Tools: Experience with JMP, Tableau, Python based AI/ML models for advanced analytics.

- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and multi-functional communication skills.

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

- Paid time away (vacation, holidays, sick time)

- Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer

Salary Range: $167,700.00 - $245,200.00

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## Skills

### Required
- Electrical engineering
- Photonics
- Computer Engineering
- Python
- C/C++
- Optical transceivers
- High-speed SerDes
- Bit error rate testing

### Nice to have
- Co-Packaged Optics (CPO)
- Near-Packaged Optics (NPO)
- Linear Pluggable Optics (LPO)
- Ethernet standards
- PCIe
- Thermal characterization
- Cisco Silicon One
- Python scripting
- JMP
- Tableau
- AI/ML models

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Source: [Apply at cisco.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com](https://cisco.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Cisco_Careers/job/San-Jose-California-US/Optical-Hardware-Systems-Test-Engineer_2025656?utm_source=yubhub.co&utm_medium=jobs_feed&utm_campaign=apply)