Leader, Hardware Engineering

The application window is expected to close on: 06/30/2026.
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

This position will be on-site in San Jose, CA.

You will join the Component Quality & Technology Group within Global Supply Chain Operations. Our team is at the forefront of technical innovation, responsible for the roadmap, development, and implementation of sophisticated end‑to‑end thermal solutions that power Cisco's world‑class products. You will collaborate extensively with Business Units, Product Operations, Manufacturing, Planning, and Supplier Management. You will also represent Cisco in external industry forums, conferences, and academic partnerships to adopt cutting‑edge technologies that keep Cisco ahead of the competition.

The Component Quality and Technology Organization is a hub of innovation. You will collaborate extensively with Business Units, Product Operations, Manufacturing, Planning, and Supplier Management. You will also represent Cisco in external industry forums, conferences, and academic partnerships to adopt cutting‑edge technologies that keep Cisco ahead of the competition.

• Strategic Leadership
  :
  Lead a global team of thermal component engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, mentorship, and career development.
• Technology Roadmap
  :
  Partner with microelectronics packaging suppliers, thermal interface material (TIM) vendors, and internal stakeholders to define and execute a system‑wide thermal technology roadmap.
• Ecosystem Readiness
  :
  Drive supply ecosystem readiness for advanced cooling technologies, including liquid and immersion cooling.
• Innovation & Strategy
  :
  Investigate innovative, large‑scale thermal cooling solutions. Develop commodity and supplier strategies based on industry sensing, quality roadmaps, and rigorous supplier assessments.
• Quality Excellence
  :
  Establish and maintain an end‑to‑end quality strategy for all thermal components.
• Technical Analysis
  :
  Analyze thermal performance tradeoffs (substrate, underfill, TIM, heat spreaders) and chip thermal gradients using experimental test data.
• Validation & Qualification
  :
  Define test plans and qualification requirements for mechanical and manufacturing adaptability (pumps, heat pipes, vapor chambers, heat sinks, liquid cooling).
• Industry Influence
  :
  Engage with ODMs and component vendors, participate in industry consortia, and collaborate with academia to influence Cisco's position as an industry leader.

• BS in Mechanical, Thermal, or Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in the design, simulation, testing of thermal solutions for electronic devices and systems.
• Extensive experience with advanced air‑cooling technologies (vapor chambers, remote heat sinks, TIM, fan trays).
• Experience with liquid cooling and/or immersion cooling.
• Proven people leadership experience.

• MS or PhD in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in microelectronics thermal cooling; 10+ years of people leadership experience.
• Expertise in Thermal Interface Material (TIM) conductivity testing procedures and microelectronics packaging manufacturing processes.

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.