Engineering Program Manager

In this role you will manage complex hardware product development programs from concept to First Customer Shipment, ensuring predictable execution. You will collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, and support functions to align plans and budgets, while proactively mitigating risks. You’ll deliver status updates to senior leadership and ensure governance processes are followed. This opportunity sits at Cisco’s Center of Excellence for optical systems, offering exposure to cutting-edge labs and partners, with meaningful scope to shape product lifecycles and time-to-market.

• Lead end-to-end hardware product development programs and sustaining lifecycles with minimal mentorship
• Create and manage program plans, schedules, and budgets across cross-functional teams
• Conduct program reviews and report progress to Program Core Teams and Senior Management
• Identify risks early and develop mitigation plans to protect schedule, quality, and budget
• Oversee budget planning and spend in line with governance processes

• 5+ years in hardware-based project management for product development
• Experience managing end-to-end hardware lifecycles from concept through prototyping to First Customer Shipment
• Proven ability to manage schedules, multi-phase development, budgets, and risk registers for complex hardware systems
• Professional working proficiency in English (written and spoken)

• Influencing leadership
• Building consensus without authority
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Aligning partner priorities across time zones
• Telecom, Optical Networking, or High-Speed Datacenter Systems experience (e.g., DWDM, transceivers, linecards, routers/switches)