The application window is expected to close on: Feb 15th, 12 PM ET 2026

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

Meet the Team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) delivers the silicon, optics, and hardware platforms for Cisco's core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products. With 2,100 employees across 16 countries, we design the networking hardware for Enterprises and Service Providers of various sizes, the Public Sector, and Non-Profit Organizations across the world. Cisco Silicon One is the only unifying silicon architecture in the market that enables customers to deploy the best-of-breed silicon from Top of Rack (TOR) switches all the way through web scale data centers and across service provider, enterprise networks, and data centers with a fully unified routing and switching portfolio. Come join us and take part in shaping Cisco's revolutionary solutions by designing, developing and testing some of the most complex ASICs being developed in the industry.

Your Impact

Closely work with Team Leads to Build PD Execution Schedule and Track Milestones through the Project. As a SoC Physical Design Lead, you will work closely with Architecture/Package/PD Teams to develop, craft, and optimize floor-plans during early chip development to meet Power/Performance/Area Goals for the SoC.Drive the review process and collaborate with the ASIC design team to identify area, interconnect and floorplan improvement opportunities.Build tools and improve existing infrastructure to optimize chip area and speed of execution.Interact with Design team to review constraints.Collaborate with Cross Functional Teams across geographies.Drive SoC Physical Design Implementation in Advanced Process Nodes with world class team of Physical Design, Circuit design, DFT and integration engineers.Build a team of hard-working and passionate leaders as we scale.Develop Soc Execution Schedule and Milestone Tracking.Communicate Status and Risks to Senior Management.Expert understanding of both FE and BE ASIC flows.Maintain close interactions with RTL, NPI, Packaging, DFT, Architecture teams.Own power, performance and area optimization of design.Oversee the development of new automation utilities for improved quality, time to delivery and high-quality Designs.Conduct periodic design reviews - with deep technical dives - to make sure the project is tracking to the schedule and maintaining a high quality of work.EMIR analysis and Timing signoff closure.


Minimum Qualifications



8+ years experience in the hardware industry, proven management experience in leading a team that does SoC and Physical Design.Drive ASIC design methodology and flow from concept to release.Demonstrable experience at leading and managing large ASIC developments in advanced process nodes.Prior Experience in developing Physical Design Execution Schedule.Demonstrable hands-on experience in ASIC design. 

Preferred Qualifications



Knowledge of industry standard PnR and Signoff tools and their capabilities.Understands the big picture and attention to detail during execution.Knowledge and hands on experience in block level synthesis, place and route, timing closure. Understanding advanced power analysis and power integrity analysis.Knowledge of scripting languages Tcl, Python.Manage Static Timing Analysis, timing closure and design constraints.Self-motivated, able to work in a highly cross functional team.MS or Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science.

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 $230,100.00 to $325,300.00 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:

$230,100.00 - $374,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$216,500.00 - $337,000.00

* 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.