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 cutting-edge IM/DD optics and silicon photonic platforms that enable customers to deploy industry-leading optical technologies within data center 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 outstanding 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.

Your Impact

We are looking for a talented and experienced Digital Design Engineer to join the Silicon One Optics Group (S1O) Digital Design Team and drive the digital design and integration of Cisco’s silicon photonics integrated circuits for next generation 100G, 200G, and 400G per lambda solutions.

In this role, you will own RTL design, and subsystem integration of digital logic used in high-performance optical interconnect products. You will work closely with analog/mixed-signal designers, verification engineers, physical design, DFT, firmware, packaging, process, and product engineering teams to develop robust, high-quality, and manufacturable designs that meet performance, power, reliability, and production requirements.

With a strong understanding of digital systems, RTL development, mixed-signal integration, ASIC/SoC design flow, and implementation readiness, you will participate in all phases of digital design from concept through tapeout and production support. You will drive block-level digital development for control functions, interfaces, receive/transmit paths, and integrated high-speed interface circuitry within a silicon photonics module, CPO (Co-Packaged Optics) engine.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Own the RTL design of complex digital blocks and subsystems.
• Drive RTL design and integration for control functions, high speed interfaces, and receive/transmit paths.
• Own and review RTL quality, ensuring best practices in coding style, reuse, maintainability, and design robustness.
• Document block-level and top-level design specifications, interface definitions, and implementation plans.
• Work across analog and digital interfaces to ensure seamless mixed-signal integration.
• Collaborate closely with verification teams to define test plans, review coverage, debug issues, and ensure design intent is fully verified.
• Support full-chip integration involving high-speed IPs such as D2D IP, SerDes XSR, and integrated drivers/TIA.
• Support synthesis, timing closure, power optimization, low-power intent, and design-for-test (DFT) considerations.
• Develop scripts and automation flows for analysis, design checks, QoR tracking, and reporting using Python, Perl, Tcl, Shell, or C.
• Independently debug simulation and integration issues and identify root causes of design bugs.
• Support firmware/C coding activities related to CPU subsystem functionality and integration, where needed.
• Contribute to FPGA prototyping and validation activities where applicable.
• Partner with post-silicon and ATE teams on bring-up support, test planning, and production readiness.

Who You’ll Work With:

As a Digital Design Engineer, you will work with a diverse team of engineers spanning digital design, analog/mixed-signal design, verification, DFT, physical design, firmware, FPGA, CAD, packaging, and post-silicon validation.

At the concept stage, you will participate in the digital architecture, interface requirements, implementation strategy, and design methodology. During execution, you will write block-level RTL and support full-chip integration of high-speed IPs such as ODSP, D2D IP, SerDes XSR, SerDes PAM4 integrated drivers/TIA, and control functions. You will work closely with verification teams to ensure complete functional closure, with physical design teams to support implementation readiness, and with post-silicon teams to help drive successful product bring-up and release to production.

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong technical leader with 6-8 years of hands-on experience in digital design, RTL development, and ASIC/SoC integration.
• Proficiency in Verilog/SystemVerilog.
• Strong understanding of digital architecture, finite state machines, control logic, datapath design, and interface design.
• Familiarity with protocols such as SPI, I2C, APB, AXI, or similar interfaces.
• Experience supporting block-to-chip integration.
• Strong knowledge of ASIC/SoC design flow, including RTL development, simulation, lint, CDC/RDC, synthesis, formal/equivalence checking, DFT, and implementation handoff.
• Experience with low-power design methodologies such as UPF/CPF.

Preferred Qualification

• FPGA experience is a plus
• Experience supporting lab bring-up, post-silicon validation, or ATE enablement is a plus.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, teamwork and debugging skills.

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. 

Disclaimer

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• be in direct response to an application you have submitted through the company career site
• begin with screening or an interview
• originate from a Cisco email address, and
• be conducted across email, phone, or WebEx

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