The application window is expected to close on: 09/30/2026
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Your Impact:- Design, model, and simulate silicon photonic devices and integrated components, including advanced waveguide modeling and optical coupling design.
- Develop and execute measurement and characterization plans to validate photonic device performance against design targets.
- Design and optimize high-speed modulators and photodetectors for next-generation optical platforms.
- Perform design analysis and trade-off studies to drive device- and platform-level performance improvements.
- Solves complex problems and takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions.
- Establishes and maintains ongoing and collaborative cross-functional relationships to gather insights, align on business needs, and deliver value.
- Converts product requirements into design requirements and takes accountability for the design, test, and validation of multiple subsystems/blocks.
- Analyzes testing outcomes to determine root cause of highly technical problems and proposes, develops, and implements solutions for corrective action and future designs.
- Innovates photonic design of new products and solutions by looking at the broader Cisco portfolio and contributes to the team's intellectual property, including participation in the patent process.
Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's + 8 years of related experience, OR Master's + 6 years of related experience, OR PhD + 3 years of related experience. (Post-doctoral candidates with some industry/company experience will also be considered.)
- Experience in silicon photonics device design, including simulation and design of integrated photonic components.
- Demonstrated experience with optical measurement and characterization of photonic devices, and data analysis.
- Demonstrated experience with advanced waveguide modeling, design analysis, and optical coupling.
Preferred Qualifications- Product-related experience-taking photonic devices or platforms from design through qualification and production.
- Familiarity with the patent process and a track record of contributing to intellectual property.
- Experience designing high-speed modulators and/or photodetectors.
- Experience with co-packaged optics (CPO) or pluggable optics architectures (e.g., 800G, 1.6T).
- Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to align engineering, product, and manufacturing partnersa.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical concepts for varied audiences.
Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:The starting salary range posted for this position is $151,300.00 to $216,200.00 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:
$171,600.00 - $281,800.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$151,300.00 - $250,900.00
* 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.
