Senior Manager, System Level Testing

The application window is expected to close on: Dec 30th, 12 PM ET 2025

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 Silicon One organization is redefining the future of networking silicon, and we are looking for a seasoned engineering leader to head our System-Level Test Engineering team. In this role, you will guide a team of talented test engineers responsible for validating complex silicon designs and ensuring product quality, reliability, and readiness for deployment across Cisco's industry-leading platforms.

This position requires a blend of strategic leadership, deep technical insight, and strong cross-functional collaboration. You will shape long-term test strategies, drive execution across multiple programs, and partner closely with design, software, verification, operations, and vendor teams to bring advanced networking solutions to market.

Your Impact

• Leadership & People Management
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of system-level test engineers.
• Manage hiring, performance reviews, goal-setting, and long-term career development.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and results-oriented team culture.

Strategy & Execution

• Define and execute the long-term system-level test and validation vision for Cisco Silicon One products.
• Establish scalable test methodologies supporting new product introduction (NPI) and high-volume manufacturing.
• Prioritize projects, allocate resources, and ensure successful, on-time delivery across multiple programs.

Technical Ownership

• Oversee development of automated test solutions, test plans, and system validation workflows.
• Lead system-level validation for pre-silicon and post-silicon phases using emulation, FPGA, and physical platforms.
• Define test strategies to optimize coverage, product quality, yield, and compliance with regulatory and security requirements.
• Drive root-cause analysis and resolution of complex hardware/software integration issues.
• Support tooling, automation infrastructure, and test equipment planning to ensure operational efficiency.

Collaboration & Communication

• Act as the primary technical interface for system-level testing across hardware design, software development, verification, operations, and program management teams.
• Work with external vendors to evaluate and integrate emerging test technologies.
• Provide clear and concise updates to senior leadership on progress, risks, quality metrics, and strategic initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• BSc/MSc in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related engineering field.
• 8+ years of experience in system or hardware test engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Experience with high-speed SERDES bring-up, validation, and debug in complex system environments.
• Strong experience in hardware/software integration and system-level validation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with lab equipment, silicon bring-up methodologies, and large-scale automation solutions.
• Proficiency with Linux and Python.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with proven ability to collaborate across global teams.
• Self-motivated, organized, and a strong team player.

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.

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 ofunused sick timecarried forwardfrom one calendar yearto 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:

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

* 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.