Product Design Lead Jobs in San Jose, CA

The application window is expected to close on: 08/31/2026Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.

This role requires being onsite in San Jose, CA at least 4 days/week.

Meet the Team

The Common Hardware Group (CHG) creates innovative hardware platforms central to the AI era, powering Cisco’s core Switching, Routing, and Wireless products for organizations globally. Our innovations in silicon, optics, and hardware platforms—like Silicon One—are shaping the technology industry. We're a global team of creative experts, bringing our unique backgrounds and bold ideas to push boundaries and help each other grow. Because full product development—from design to qualification to production—is within our team, we’re able to think differently, experiment more, and work quickly. Join us to power the future of the digital world.

Your Impact

As a member of the platform engineering mechanical team based in San Jose, CA, you will work on current and next-generation mechanical designs for hyperscale and data center networking systems. We seek individuals who thrive in dynamic environments and value open communication, empowerment, innovation, teamwork, and customer success.

• Design and deliver next generation chassis and cards that meets system product requirements.
• Perform detailed 2D tolerance analysis for complex electro-mechanical assemblies using spreadsheet and/or 3D tolerance analysis tool such as CETol.
• Design and develop innovative mechanical solutions using sheet metal, plastic, and die-cast that meets EMI, safety and compliance requirements.
• Develop 3D CAD model using Creo or NX.
• Create detailed drawings by applying Geometric Tolerancing and Dimensioning (GD) principles.
• Assist with resolution of issues by working closely with manufacturing team and suppliers, developing mitigation plans, and keeping management informed.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams (HW, SI, CAD, Thermal, Manufacturing, etc.) to negotiate requirements and evaluate technical risks and tradeoffs.
• Collaborate with thermal engineers to design and implement cooling solutions.
• Teamwork: the candidate must be able to communicate well with cross-functional team members, be able to efficiently collaborate with team members to achieve project goals and contribute positively to the engineering community.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent and 7+ years of experience designing electronic enclosures.
• Experience in use of 3D MCAD tools (Creo/NX).
• Experience designing sheet metal parts using soft and hard tooling guidelines.
• Experience with GD and tolerance analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent and 4+ years of experience designing electronic enclosures.
• Relevant experience in the mechanical design of computer/networking.
• Experience in designing sheet metal enclosures for fixed and modular systems
• Prior knowledge in manufacturing tooling for sheet metal, plastic, and die-casting.
• Experience in designing plastic and die-cast parts.
• Broad knowledge of other cross-functional design areas: PCB layout, EMI, safety, and thermal.

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.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

The starting salary range posted for this position is $152,400.00 to $221,800.00 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:
$152,400.00 - $255,100.00

Non-Metro New York state& Washington state:
$134,300.00 - $224,800.00

• 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.