Hardware Engineer I – Co-op

Cisco

Hardware Engineer I (Co-op) joining Cisco's Creative Hardware Engineering team. Making a tangible impact in product lifecycle through innovative design and testing processes.

Posted 5/26/2026full-timeSan Jose • California, North Carolina • 🇺🇸 United StatesEntry Level💰 $44,000 - $185,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Join the Creative Hardware Engineering team and make a tangible impact across the full product development cycle.
Shape the product lifecycle by managing multiple priorities and advancing both immediate and long-term hardware goals.
Build and sustain strong relationships with cross-functional teams while collaborating on ASIC Design and Verification for reliable, high-performance products.
Drive innovation in System/Board Design, leveraging excellent communication skills to align and deliver robust hardware solutions.
Apply your collaborative spirit and technical expertise to optimize Circuit Board Layout for efficiency, manufacturability, and quality.
Champion Hardware Automation initiatives, working across business groups to streamline development and testing processes.
Lead Validation and Test activities by fostering positive team dynamics and ensuring product excellence.
Enhance Signal Integrity, coordinating with extended teams to achieve optimal speed and data fidelity in complex systems.
Advance Power Design strategies, contributing to energy-efficient and sustainable hardware solutions as a trusted team player.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Foundational understanding of hardware engineering principles, including experience with hardware design and tools (e.g., Altium, Cadence, Mentor Graphics) and simulation software.
Familiarity with hardware testing and debugging techniques using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters.
Strong grasp of engineering fundamentals and technical problem-solving abilities.
Able to commit to a 6-month co-op program.
Able to legally live and work in the country for which you’re applying, without visa support or sponsorship.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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
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
4 paid days off for personal wellness determined by Cisco
16 days of paid vacation time per full calendar year, accrued at rate of 4.92 hours per pay period for full-time employees
flexible vacation time off program
80 hours of sick time off provided on hire date and each January 1st thereafter
up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward from one calendar year to the next
Optional 10 paid days per full calendar year to volunteer
eligible to earn annual bonuses subject to Cisco’s policies.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

ASIC DesignVerificationSystem DesignBoard DesignCircuit Board LayoutSignal IntegrityPower DesignHardware DesignTechnical Problem-SolvingHardware Testing

Soft Skills

CollaborationCommunicationTeam DynamicsRelationship ManagementInnovationPrioritizationLeadershipAdaptabilityCommitmentTrustworthiness