The application window is expected to close on:
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received .
2006219 - HSM Software Engineer [Hybrid]
The application window is expected to close on: April 4, 2026.
Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received.
This is a hybrid role for U.S. citizens where team members split time between working in the office and home.
Meet the Team
The Cryptographic Services team provides critical services that directly support Cisco's products and services. This diverse group of engineers includes experts in applied cryptography, software, applications, and infrastructure. The team collaborates closely to craft, architect, and support services that protect Cisco, relying on strong technical, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
Your Impact
As a Hardware Security Module (HSM) engineer in the Cryptographic Services group, you will tackle sophisticated technical security challenges supporting Cisco's critical business. You will maintain and deploy HSM's and maintain critical key material for the organization on a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) team. The role offers the opportunity to work both with traditional on-prem infrastructure while supporting critical key operations in cloud environments. The Hardware Security Module Engineering role will leverage a diverse suite of tools including PKICS#11, Terraform, Git, Ansible, Kubernetes and AWS cloud utilities.
Collaborate with service managers, application developers, and technical leaders to optimize infrastructure workloads in a hybrid cloud environment
Support critical systems and infrastructure in a 24x7 enterprise or service provider environment.
Manage physical installation and maintenance of hardware security modules (e.g. Thales, Utimaco).
Secure, maintain, and wield critical key material in support of engineering business units and product teams.
Automate and orchestrate workflows in hybrid cloud environments in support of critical API applications for internal client teams.
Minimum Qualifications:
Proficient with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with experience integrating Terraform with both cloud and on-prem infrastructure.
Skilled with Automation and Orchestration with proven experience leveraging Ansible playbooks, GitLab, and Argo CD workflows for Kubernetes-native environments.
Hands-on experience with public cloud platforms (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid cloud environments.
Proficient with Terraform configurations, Ansible playbooks, and Kubernetes YAML manifests.
Experience with configuration validation, linting and automated testing of IaC code.
Preferred Qualifications:
Key management technologies and practices. Understanding of asymmetric and symmetric cryptography (RSA, ECC, AES, etc.).
Hardware Security Module management/deployment (i.e. Thales, Utimaco).
Accustomed to working in highly secure environments that can include FedRAMP, and IL5.
Accustomed to working within an environment that leverages and promotes AI.
Cross-team collaboration with application teams and internal Cisco clients.
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 $126,500.00 to $182,000.00 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:
$152,500.00 - $252,000.00
Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:
$135,800.00 - $224,400.00
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.
