Emulation Engineer

Please note this posting is to advertise potential job opportunities. This exact role may not be open today but could open in the near future. When you apply, a Cisco representative may contact you directly if a relevant position opens.

Meet the team

Join the Cisco Common ASIC Group—a passionate, world-class team pioneering the future of programmable, high-speed switching solutions. Our team’s mission is to accelerate innovation by enabling early detection of performance and functional issues in ASICs, ensuring reliable and scalable network infrastructure. As a diverse and highly collaborative group, we blend expertise in hardware, software, and emulation to deliver the backbone of global data connectivity. With a culture rooted in technical excellence and continuous learning, we’re excited to build tomorrow’s switching systems that power the world’s internet experiences. Be part of a unique team whose solutions touch nearly every internet transaction globally.

Your impact

Drive the development of advanced ASIC emulation environments to accelerate pre-silicon validation and improve time-to-market for next-generation switching systems. Build and refine emulation infrastructure using C/C++ and TCL, enabling early identification of critical issues and enabling robust silicon. Collaborate closely with design, verification, power, and diagnostic teams to implement, test, and debug complex multi-terabit systems. Develop and execute sophisticated test plans and traffic scenarios to ensure flawless system performance post-silicon. Shape the reliability and scalability of the hardware that underpins cloud and enterprise networks worldwide.

Minimum qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or Computer Engineering with 4+ years of relevant experience, OR Bachelor’s degree in the same fields with 5+ years of relevant experience
• 2+ years of emulation experience on platforms such as Palladium, Veloce, or Zebu as well as experience with compilation, debug, performance testing.
• Proficiency in RTL development using Verilog or System Verilog for emulation prototypes
• Proficiency in C/C++ and TCL for emulation infrastructure development
• Experience with system debug tools (e.g., gdb, waveform debuggers)

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, Perl)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Post-silicon functional validation or debugging experience
• Knowledge of protocols such as PCIe, I2C, Ethernet packet headers, and Ethernet protocol
• Collaborative mindset with a drive to learn and contribute in a team environment

Why Cisco?

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.