Hardware Security Engineer

About the Role

As a Hardware Security Engineer at Cisco, you will be part of the Trust Transformation Office (TTO), which plays a pivotal role in understanding customer needs for security, privacy, data protection, and customer data management. You will work closely with various teams to build industry-leading trust and visibility, shaping the strategic direction of networks, security, collaboration, and applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive anti-counterfeit technology validation during product development processes.
• Lead data protection efforts for manufacturing and product data as it flows into third-party ecosystems.
• Ensure security controls are deployed into product development, including granular access control, threat modeling, encryption, and data flow visibility.
• Drive chain of custody integrity efforts from engineering to manufacturing.
• Lead implementation of tools and processes to ensure data flow integrity through the product development lifecycle.
• Identify and assess potential risks and vulnerabilities within the product development lifecycle.
• Develop strategies and solutions to mitigate potential security threats.
• Keep up to date with the latest product security technologies and trends.
• Work closely with product development teams to integrate security measures into product designs.
• Participate in the creation and enforcement of hardware security policies and procedures.

Who You Are

You are passionate about cybersecurity and have a strong understanding of supply chain processes. You possess excellent analytical skills and critical thinking abilities, allowing you to approach problems methodically. You are comfortable engaging with senior technical leaders and can guide discussions to capture and frame insights into compelling analysis.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience with hardware security mechanisms such as Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), secure boot, and hardware roots of trust.
• Understanding of cryptographic principles and secure communication protocols.
• Knowledge of security standards and frameworks relevant to hardware security.
• Proven experience in hardware design and analysis.
• Familiarity with common hardware vulnerabilities and attack vectors, including side-channel attacks, fault injection, and reverse engineering.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master's degree or relevant professional certification.
• Experience with hardware design tools and software such as CAD tools for PCB design, FPGA programming tools, or simulation tools.
• A deep understanding of the hardware lifecycle, from design to deployment and decommissioning.
• Experience with embedded systems and microcontrollers.
• Familiarity with compliance and regulatory requirements that impact hardware security, such as FIPS, Common Criteria, or specific industry standards.

Why Cisco

At Cisco, we are committed to powering an inclusive future for all. We believe in the power of diversity and are dedicated to equality. Our inclusive communities bring people together around commonalities or passions, leading the way in making the world a better place through technology and our actions.

Join us and be part of a team that celebrates and supports one another, from big and small life moments to significant career achievements. We tackle challenges together, recognize accomplishments, and grow as a team. Be you, with us! #WeAreCisco