Technical Program Manager - Test Development & Eng Ops

The application window is expected to close on: 02/06/2026

**Job posting may be removed earlier if the position is filled or if a sufficient number of applications are received** .

This position will be hybrid from our San Jose, CA location.

**Meet the Team**

Cisco’s Supply Chain Engineering Operations organization enables the successful delivery of Cisco’s hardware products at scale. Within this organization, the Central Test Development & Engineering Operations team provides shared product test and platform strategy, as well as operational leadership across multiple business units, test platforms, and manufacturing partners.

This team operates horizontally across Cisco’s hardware portfolio, ensuring consistent, scalable, and high‑quality test solutions (processes and tools) that support seamless new product introduction (NPI), factory ramp, and sustaining production. The team also partners with engineering, data, and automation groups to incorporate AI/ML‑driven insights and automation into test processes, analytics, and operational decision‑making.

**Your Impact**

As a Technical Program Manager (TPM) in Central Test Development & Engineering Operations, you will lead cross‑functional test initiatives and test strategy execution that span multiple functions, test platforms, and hardware programs. You will not be tied to a single product; instead, you will drive Test readiness, standardization, and operational excellence across Cisco’s supply chain test engineering ecosystem.

In addition, you will help shape and execute initiatives that leverage AI/ML technologies to improve test efficiency, predictive insights, automation, and overall engineering productivity. You will work with cross‑functional teams to identify practical use cases and ensure these capabilities are embedded into operational workflows at scale.

You will partner closely with BU Test Development Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and other Business Unit teams to ensure test capabilities are delivered on time, at scale, and aligned with Cisco’s quality and industry standards.

In this role you will be responsible for:

+ Program & Initiative Leadership

+ Test Strategy & Readiness

+ Central Test Programs & Initiatives

+ Test Engineering Operations & Continuous Improvement

+ Communication & Stakeholder Management

As a technically grounded program manager the role thrives in complex, cross‑functional environments. Responsibilities include driving test strategy and operational initiatives that enable multiple teams to succeed and are comfortable balancing technical depth, execution rigor, and partner alignment. This position requires a forward‑looking mentality and comfortable working with AI/ML concepts, using data and intelligent automation to improve engineering operations and outcomes.

**Minimum Qualifications**

+ Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent practical experience

+ 5+ years of experience in technical program or project management within hardware, test, or manufacturing environments

+ Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional test initiatives or test strategy efforts

+ Working knowledge of AI/ML technologies and data‑driven techniques, with the ability to identify and drive practical applications within test processes, analytics, automation, or operational initiatives

+ Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent programs with competing priorities

Strong understanding of:

+ Hardware development lifecycle and NPI processes

+ Test development, validation, and manufacturing test concepts

+ Supply chain and engineering operations fundamentals

**Preferred Qualifications**

+ Experience working in centralized or shared services engineering organizations

+ Background in manufacturing test, system test, or factory readiness

+ Exposure to end‑to‑end test platform ecosystems

+ Experience driving standardization, reuse, and process transformation across teams

+ Experience partnering with data science, automation, or software teams to integrate AI/ML‑enabled solutions into engineering or operational workflows

+ Strong data‑driven attitude, with experience building operational metrics and dashboards

+ Excellent communication skills, including executive‑level status reporting

**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 $132,300.00 to $174,000.00 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:

$132,300.00 - $200,100.00

Non-Metro New York state & Washington state:

$117,300.00 - $219,300.00

* 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.