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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Tech Lead - Hardware /Embedded Engineer - **Company:** Cisco Systems, Inc. - **Location:** Santa Monica, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $151,300.0 - $216,200.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Board Bringup, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Computing Platforms, C++ (Programming Language), Software Debugging, Digital Electronics, Embedded Software, Ethernet, Firmware, Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Networking Hardware, Remote Infrastructure Management, Signal Integrity, Systems Integration, Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter, USB, Digital Access Carrier System, Serial Peripheral Interface, PIC Microcontroller, Reliability of Systems, System-level Testing, Kubernetes, Cisco - **Published:** September 28, 2026 - **Apply:** https://jobs.localjobnetwork.com/apply/add/88466828/1 ## About the Role * Bachelors + 8 years of related experience, or Masters + 6 years of related experience, or PhD + 3 years of related experience, or equivalent related work experience. * 3+ years of experience developing custom electronic hardware and embedded control systems. * Experience designing mixed-signal PCBs incorporating embedded processors, microcontrollers, or FPGAs. * Experience in embedded software/firmware development using C/C++. * Experience with FPGA-based systems, including familiarity with RTL and/or High-Level Synthesis (HLS)., * Experience developing electronics and control systems for lasers, electro-optic modulators, optical switches, photonic integrated circuits, or other photonic devices. * Experience with analog and digital electronics, signal integrity, impedance matching, grounding, and high-speed PCB design * Experience working with ADCs, DACs, and mixed-signal data-acquisition and control systems. * Experience with common communication interfaces including Ethernet, UART, SPI, USB, and GPIO. * Experience designing low-noise power distribution and electronics for sensitive instrumentation. * Background in classical optics, quantum optics, quantum networking, photonics, or precision instrumentation. ## Description Cisco Quantum Research is seeking a highly skilled Embedded & Controls Engineer to help develop the next generation of deployable quantum networking hardware. You will take end-to-end ownership of the electronics and control architecture that connects our advanced photonic and quantum hardware to Cisco's software and orchestration platforms. Your work will span custom PCB design, mixed-signal and high-speed electronics, FPGA and embedded systems, firmware, precision control algorithms, hardware APIs, and rack-level system integration. Working closely with our photonics, software, systems, and mechanical engineering teams, you will transform laboratory prototypes into robust, manufacturable systems capable of operating outside the laboratory. You will address challenging requirements including ultra-low-noise electronics, precise synchronization, sub-nanosecond timing, high-speed signal integrity, closed-loop optical control, and reliable remote management. Your work will establish the electronic and control infrastructure required to bring Cisco's quantum networking technologies from research prototypes into scalable, field-deployable platforms. You Will: * Architect custom mixed-signal PCBs for precision control, data acquisition, timing, and communication within rack-mounted quantum systems. * Develop embedded software and firmware to control custom electronics, optical components, and photonic devices. * Design high-speed analog and digital signal paths while maintaining stringent requirements for signal integrity, latency, synchronization, and noise. * Interface with embedded processors, FPGAs, ADCs, DACs, and discrete control and telemetry signals. * Design, implement, and tune digital control loops for precision regulation and stabilization of optical and electronic hardware. * Architect low-noise power distribution, grounding, and control electronics for sensitive quantum hardware. * Develop interfaces for system communication using technologies such as Ethernet, UART, SPI, USB, GPIO, and high-speed data-converter interfaces. * Define and implement APIs that enable higher-level software platforms to control hardware and access system status and telemetry. * Develop custom cable harnessing and interconnect solutions for RF, digital, analog, telemetry, and high-speed signals. * Collaborate with software, systems, mechanical, optical, and photonics engineers to optimize thermal performance, grounding, EMI/EMC, signal integrity, and overall system reliability. * Lead hardware bring-up and debug complex interactions between electronics, firmware, FPGA logic, and system-level software. * Create and implement comprehensive hardware, firmware, and system-level test plans; analyze results and drive design improvements. * Transform laboratory and benchtop prototypes into reliable, manufacturable, field-deployable rack-mounted systems. ## Related Videos - [How Cisco embraced a DevOps culture within its network engineering team](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/99-how-cisco-embraced-a-devops-culture-within-its-network-engineering-team) - [Prototyping with Hardware and the Web](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/651-prototyping-with-hardware-and-the-web) - [More efficient software for more efficient microchips](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1164-more-efficient-software-for-more-efficient-microchips) - [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine) - [Your Infrastructure Is Not a Playground: AI Agents for Infra Done Right](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2084-your-infrastructure-is-not-a-playground-ai-agents-for-infra-done-right) - [Strange New Worlds: shaping the future of the digital age](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/677-strange-new-worlds-shaping-the-future-of-the-digital-age) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Is Software Engineering Hard?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/448-is-software-engineering-hard) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [What’s the Difference between a Junior, Mid, and Senior Developer?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/238-what-s-the-difference-between-a-junior-mid-and-senior-developer) - [Résumé-Driven Development: How IT trends affect the job market for software developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/59-resume-driven-development-how-it-trends-affect-the-job-market-for-software-developers)