Silicon Photonics Design Engineer

The application window is expected to close on: 06/29/2026

Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received
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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. We’re a global team of creative experts, bringing our unique backgrounds and bold ideas to push boundaries and help each other grow.

Because full product development—from design to qualification to production—is within our team, we’re able to think differently, experiment more, and work quickly. Join us to power the future of the digital world.

As a Silicon Photonics Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the design, development and qualification of integrated optical devices used in Cisco silicon photonics transceivers

• Work within a team of silicon photonics designers on integrated optical devices to enable the next generation of Cisco optical transceiver products

• Develop modulators and photodetector through device design, layout of test and characterization structures, testing (including high speed) and reliability qualification to make them ready for use in products

• Interact with the foundry and its engineers to optimize the manufacturing process and select process parameters

• Interface with product team IC designers to deliver device models and optimize the performance parameters of the optoelectronic devices to match with drivers and TIAs

• Bachelor’s degree in Optics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field and 5+ years of experience an engineering role

• Experience designing passive and active silicon photonics components (e.g. grating couplers, photodetectors, modulators, filters) or subsystems that use them.

• Experience using software modeling tools such as Ansys/Lumerical, Silvaco, or Photon Design.

• Experience using CAD layout tools such as Cadence Virtuoso, kLayout, etc.

• Master’s degree in Optics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field and 3+ years of experience in an engineering role or PhD in Optics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field and 0+ years of experience.

• Experience with optical test equipment (e.g. tunable lasers, detectors, OSA, VNA) and microwave measurement techniques, as well as with statistical analysis tools (e.g. JMP).

• Experience with the design of integrated electronic circuits that interface with active silicon photonics components (e.g., TIAs, modulator drivers).

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.

The starting salary range posted for this position is $ to $ 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…