Join Cisco's Process & Automation group and revolutionize optics manufacturing! We're seeking a dynamic Mechanical Engineer to design, develop, and optimize our automated optics assembly processes. You'll be instrumental in establishing robust, repeatable process capability, expanding production capacity through scalable solutions, and ensuring exceptional quality that consistently surpasses product and process standards. Your expertise will directly accelerate new product introduction (NPI) success, drive production efficiency, and uphold our unwavering commitment to excellence in optics manufacturing.
You will champion the design, development, and optimization of high-precision, automated assembly processes for wafer and module-level optical packaging. Engineer and refine robust assembly methodologies, ensuring high repeatability, scalability, and yield. Establish and optimize machine recipes and process parameters for proto@type, pilot, and engineering test builds. Systematically identify and resolve process issues using 8D methodology and statistical analysis, driving root-cause solutions for sustained quality improvements. Design and implement Design of Experiments (DOE) to increase process capability and enable efficient scaling. You'll also specify, procure, and qualify custom assembly fixtures and tooling, and qualify in-house pilot assembly lines for high-volume production release. Bring up and manage contract manufacturers, orchestrating process transfer, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives. Analyze and refine manufacturing workflows, targeting bottlenecks, cost reduction, and improved cycle times through lean manufacturing practices. Create and maintain comprehensive process documentation to standardize quality, and conduct process risk assessments, implementing mitigation strategies for robust, high-quality outputs.
Required Qualifications
Consistent record in improving manufacturing capability (process development), capacity (volume scaling), and quality (yield/reliability).
Analytical and problem-solving skills, with a structured engineering approach to driving process improvements
Bachelors + 5 years of related experience, or Masters + 3 years of related experience, or PhD + 0 years of related experience
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to convey sophisticated technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage projects from initiation to completion.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies for scaling capacity and quality.
Direct experience with new product introduction (NPI), successful transfer to high-volume manufacturing, and supporting
Familiarity with high-volume contract manufacturing environments and supporting remote operations.
Experience in bringing up and managing contract manufacturers.
Experience in optics or photonics manufacturing including active alignment methods.
Strong understanding of machine vision, controls, and sensors as applied to automated assembly systems.
Proficiency with statistical analysis software (e.g., JMP or equivalent).
Work Environment
Onsite at our Carlsbad, CA facility.
Occasional travel to contract manufacturing partners may be required.
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 $122,000.00 to $172,100.00 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:
$135,800.00 - $222,400.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$122,000.00 - $197,900.00
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.
Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.
Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
