Table of contents
1.
Introduction🧑‍🏫
2.
About Cisco🏢
3.
About the Job👩🏻‍💻
3.1.
Eligibility Criteria🧑‍🎓
3.2.
Roles and Responsibilities of User Experience Engineer🤝
3.3.
Skill Set 👩‍🎓 
3.4.
Recruitment Process at Cisco
3.5.
Salary💸💸
3.6.
Benefits and Perks
4.
Preparation Strategy 
4.1.
Roadmap for User Experience Engineer at Cisco 📈🎯
4.2.
Build Strong Foundation
4.3.
Practice for Interviews 
4.4.
Career Map 
4.5.
Senior UX Engineers 
4.5.1.
Basic Requirements
4.5.2.
Preferred Qualifications
4.6.
Lead UX Designer
4.6.1.
Preferred Qualifications
5.
Frequently Asked Questions
5.1.
Are Cisco interviews hard?
5.2.
What distinguishes UI and UX from one another?
5.3.
Is coding necessary for UX design?
5.4.
What purposes serve UI UX?
5.5.
What does Cisco do?
6.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
Medium

User Experience Engineer at Cisco

Introduction🧑‍🏫

So are you thinking of landing a job as a User Experience Engineer at Cisco? You are at the right place :)

User Experience Engineer at Cisco

Well, here we will provide you with a complete roadmap of your dream job.

In this article, we will be going to discuss the process to become a User Experience Engineer at Cisco, what are the skill sets required, roadmaps and important links that you can also refer to.

So, let us start: 

About Cisco🏢

Cisco was founded in 1984 by the group of Stanford University Computer Scientist Team. The Cisco engineers have been leaders in the development of Internet Protocol (IP)-based networking technology ever since the time of its inception. With more than 71,000 employees worldwide, the company's core development areas of routing and switching, as well as cutting-edge technologies like home networking, IP telephony, optical networking, security, storage area networking, and wireless technology, continue to be characterised by industry-leading products and solutions. 

 

Whether in business, education, philanthropy, or creativity, Cisco helps people forge powerful connections. The Internet solutions that enable networks and provide quick access to information anywhere, at any time, are made possible by Cisco hardware, software, and service offerings.

Can’t wait to be a User Experience Engineer at Cisco? Don't worry, Coding Ninja is here to assist you at every step.

About the Job👩🏻‍💻

A user experience (UX) engineer applies UX principles when building and designing digital products like websites and applications. The user-facing parts of these products, such as the buttons, layouts, and interface flow, that users interact with, are typically the responsibility of UX engineers. They may act as liaisons between engineering and design teams or they could work on both.

About Job

A UX engineer's work involves both engineering tasks and UX principles because they are a hybrid between a developer and a UX designer. Here is a list of the tasks a UX engineer might perform:

  • Plan and design web pages and apps
  • Program the front-end
  • Collaborate with UX and engineering teams

Although there may be subtle differences, UX engineers may find that their tasks are similar to those of UX developers, front-end developers, product design engineers, or UI engineers.

Eligibility Criteria🧑‍🎓

Eligibility Criteria Image

An applicant must meet the following requirements in order to be considered for the role of User Experience Engineer at Cisco:

  • Computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related fields like math and physics recent graduates or Final year Student persuing Bachelor's or Master's degree.
     
  • A minimum GPA of 8.5 or above.
     
  • A strong foundation in software engineering and computer science fundamentals, as well as a desire to learn new technologies
     
  • Experience of standard software development tools (GitHub, Confluence, Jira) and methodologies (Agile, SCRUM).
     
  • Proficient in Javascript/Typescript, HTML5, CSS, and web frameworks (React, Angular)
     
  • Expertise of REST API docs and Postman testing
     
  • Basic experience with scripting and Unix/Linux systems
     
  • Good troubleshooting and debugging skills as well as have problem-solving skills.
     
  • Experience building and maintaining strong bonds with the team.
     
  • Excellent written and vocal communication skills.

Now that you think you are eligible for the company let’s discuss the roles and responsibilities of this job role. 

Roles and Responsibilities of User Experience Engineer🤝

Responsibility Image

The main responsibility of this position is to

  • For enhancements and new products, design, develop, troubleshoot, and debug software programs.
     
  • Develop software and tools for platforms used in design, infrastructure, and technology, such as operating systems, compilers, routers, networks, utilities, databases, and Internet-related tools.
     
  • Identify compatibility with hardware and/or have an influence on hardware design.
     
  • Define project approach and user experience strategy; identify user interface requirements.
     
  • Plan user testing, surveys, etc.; take part in them; and iterate designs in response to user and customer feedback.
     
  • Analyze tasks to optimize designs, and conduct thorough, systematic usability reviews.
     
  • Based on field research and functional requirements, establish conceptual design and suggest product direction.
     
  • Define the workflows and user interaction model.
     
  • Work with visual designers to produce designs that are in consistency with Cisco's brand while producing pixel-perfect visual assets and detailed UI guidelines and specifications.
     
  • Develop prototypes that represent the visual identity and interaction model necessary to ensure user success, ranging from paper-and-pencil concepts to high-fidelity interactives.
     
  • Cross-platform design for web, desktop, mobile, etc.
     
  • Employ best practices for things like responsive design, privacy, and accessibility.
     
  • To implement and deliver the finished product, work collaboratively with (local and remote) engineers.
     
  • Throughout all phases of the project, facilitate a multidisciplinary team in communicating.

Skill Set 👩‍🎓 

Excellent User Experience Engineer must be able to communicate effectively with users of the final product and possess both technical and interpersonal abilities. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and inquisitive skills are necessary for this job.

Skills

To work as a User Experience Engineer at Cisco one needs to have following skills-

  • experience of designing interactive applications.
     
  • software engineering tool proficiency.
     
  • A good UX engineer should be proficient in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in order to fully understand how a product works from the inside out and develop innovative, useful products for users. Mastering other programming languages and frameworks, such as Semantic HTML, Package Managers (NPM), jQuery, Angular, Vue, and React, which are all useful for creating more complicated digital products, will be easier once you have learned them.
     
  • Version control: When building a digital product, changes always take place because the UX process is iterative. Understanding how to use Git and Team Foundation Server (TFS), as well as other similar platforms, will help you manage those modifications.
     
  • Testing and debugging are crucial for a UX engineering role since they allow for the early detection and correction of problems before a product is released. It is also the responsibility of UX designers to test their prototypes. A UX engineer's objective is different, as they are more focused on how effectively the product functions technically. A UX engineer can determine through testing whether adjustments to the code or the need to write new code are required.
     
  • User interface (UI) design principles: While not the most essential skill for a UX engineer, having an understanding of UI design principles is highly valued. This doesn't imply that a UX engineer is in charge of creating wireframes; rather, it only indicates that they have the vocabulary and understanding of UI design principles necessary to accomplish their jobs more effectively. They can communicate with UX designers more effectively, which is important for their job.
     
  • Another crucial soft skill that is frequently undervalued is empathy. In order to empathise with UX designers as advocates of both the user and the engineering team and its capabilities, UX engineers draw on their empathic observation.

Recruitment Process at Cisco

Recruitment Image

The Cisco Recruitment Process generally consists of three rounds of selection.

  • Round 1Online assessment test
    There will be separate slots of questions in the first round to evaluate your ability for reasoning and thinking -
    • MCQ-Based English Communication Test.
    • Aptitude test that is game-based.
    • Behaviour Competency Profiling
       
  • Round 2Technical interview round
    Cisco focuses on analysing your technology knowledge & application skills during the technical interview. Thus, in order to pass this round, a candidate must be familiar with:
    • Front-end knowledge - HTML, CSS, Javascript, git , NodeJs, ExpressJs,etc.
    • Any one programming language
    • Programming logic Understanding (tested through Pseudocode Questions)
    • Data Structures
    • Object-Oriented Programming (OOPS)
       
  • Round 3HR interview round
    • Projects you've worked on: Verify that you are familiar with every project listed on your resume. Logic and components used throughout.
    • Interest in the subject: You will be questioned about your favourite subjects and areas of interest before moving on to more technical questions. Your understanding of those topics will be the main subject of all the interview questions.
    • Most recent technologies: You also need to be familiar with emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, etc. Possibly you will be questioned on these subjects.

Salary💸💸

Salary

The salary for the User Experience Engineer at Cisco for a fresher(Year of experience: 4 to 11 years) is:

Base Salary

16,00,000 LPA INR.

Additional Pay Average

₹60,000

Cash Bonus

₹50,000 Avg

Total CTC

₹17,10,000 LPA INR.

Hence the average User Experience Engineer salary in India can range from ₹10,65,229 - ₹21,07,047 per year depending upon the years of experience. It depends if you are working in Cisco only from a fresher level or lateral entry from another company.

(The figures presented above are subjected to change by Cisco)

Benefits and Perks

Cisco is a well-known company with high moral and ethical standards, a positive workplace culture, and good working conditions. The team leader and teammates are transparent and extremely supportive. Some of the benefits of being in Cisco are-

🏡Work From Home

🩺Health Insurance

🛎️Cafeteria

🤸Gymnasium

🏖️Team Outings

👨‍🏫Soft Skill Training

📚Job Training

🚉Free Transport

🍔Free Food

💸Savings and investments

🎗️Giving programs

👪Maternity and paternity leave

🧑🏼‍🤝‍🧑🏽Opportunities to network and connect

✈️International Relocation

Preparation Strategy 

Preparation plays an essential role in getting a job. So, here are some resources which are mentioned below which can help you to get the job role of User Experience Engineer at Cisco:

  • Learn Fundamentals of UX Design.
    You'll need to acquire and develop a variety of technical skills to become a User Experience Engineer at Cisco, including user research and strategy (which includes data collection), user interface design, wireframing and prototyping, and responsive web design, among others. You'll also need a solid grounding in soft skills like project management, collaboration, and communication.
     
  • Work on your own projects to improve your design talents.
    Working on your own UX projects will allow you to hone your abilities and acquire experience as you face new problems, all while producing work for your UX portfolio.
     
  • Updating your portfolio to showcase your User Experience skills. 
    The only thing left is to start building your portfolio so that once you've honed your UX talents, you can apply for User Experience Engineer at Cisco.
     
  • Submitting the Application for User Experience Engineer at Cisco.
    The best way for a person to apply for a job at Cisco is directly through its website. For that, you need to select your preferred field, enter your location, and then select the skills you have and experience that are relevant to the job you're searching for. All you have to do is to apply.
     

You can also apply for this job via the Cisco Career portal using this link -Careers at Cisco.

Also, go through these links for more information-

Roadmap for User Experience Engineer at Cisco 📈🎯

We are aware that preparation is half the victory and that a proper plan or road map is crucial for success. Therefore, we will go through everything you probably need to know in this area to get the job of User Experience Engineer at Cisco. Hold on to the very end of this article.

Roadmap Image

Build Strong Foundation

Starting by building a strong foundation is an excellent idea. This is the most important and critical phase because it may have an impact on how you prepare.

Strong Foundation Image
  • Don't take these "basics"—HTMLCSS, and JavaScript—for granted. It's not difficult to learn these skills, but mastering them appropriately and effectively is crucial.
     
  • Build Tools: As the build process for these components is crucial, you should be familiar with Webpack or Gulp.
     
  • Tools & CSS Preprocessors: Sass or Less are frequently used in UI frameworks and component libraries, therefore you should know them well. I also advise learning naming architectures like Scalable and Modular Architecture for CSS (SCSS) or Block-Element-Modifier (BEM) (SMACSS). When employing the tools mentioned above, they are useful.
     
  • Accessibility: To make sure your component library complies with the W3C, you need to know how to use semantic markup.
     
  • You should have some knowledge with algorithms, their running time, and optimization techniques. Having said that, unlike a front-end engineer on a development team, you won't likely use many algorithms in your day-to-day job.
     
  • Problem-Solving: When constructing the component library, you must be able to use sound problem-solving skills.
     
  • Design Patterns: Knowledge of design patterns may be helpful.
     
  • Building responsive web components that must work with different resolutions is known as responsive design. You must therefore be familiar with responsive design principles.
     
  • Learn about the components used in testing and debugging.
     
  • Version control is a need, thus you must be confident using it. Git is widely used, so make sure you polish your skills!
     
  • Package and Dependency Managers: You should be familiar with npm and yarn because you'll be working to create a package that your engineering teams can use in their workflow.
     
  • Examine the technologies that your organisation uses, as well as their ongoing initiatives and upcoming challenges.
     
  • Some more important topics that you need to cover up are ArraysLinked ListsStacksQueuesHashMapsTreesGraphs and Heaps.
     
  • From the interview perspective, OOPS is the vital topic to be known. Learn to code in any language you are wanting using the OOPS paradigm, including Abstraction, Encapsulation, Inheritance, and Polymorphism.

For more information you can also visit the free Guided Path via this link or the  coding ninja library.

Practice for Interviews 

Are you still unsure about how to start gearing up? We're here to help, so don't worry! So now that you've finished learning the fundamentals of UX skills and feel confident about the topics, it's time to prepare for the interviews.

Practice Interviews

Like coding tests, interviews need practice to be aced with ease and at your best.

  • You should concentrate on resolving problems with data structures and algorithms and basic knowledge of all the design skills like HTMLCSS, and JavaScript, etc.
     
  • Ensure that every subject is completely covered.
     
  • Regularly study and put into practise efficient design and coding techniques. Design principles such as DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself), naming conventions for functions and variables, etc., might be discussed. You can practise for the test by clicking on this link-  codingninjas.test-series.


Conduct practice interviews to help you relax throughout the interview. Additionally, it boosts your confidence and enhances your performance.

Interview Experiences

 I hope this section helped you to get well prepared for the interview. You can also check out these links to Crack Technical Interviews at Top Product-Based Companies and Ace the Interview: Top 11 DOs and DON’Ts for Freshers and Professionals.

Career Map 

A decade ago, there was no such position as a User Experience Engineer, but it is now increasingly prevalent and goes by various names. You will have a wide range of career opportunities once you become a User Experience Engineer, including Frontend Engineer, UX Developer, Creative Developer, Creative Technologist, UX Prototyper, and Design Engineer. 

Senior UX Engineers 

The primary responsibility of a senior user experience engineer is to collaborate with other designers, product managers, and engineers to create production software and prototypes that address user and business goals, Create UX specifications for the cutting-edge rendering engine, Establish and maintain concise, well-thought-out map styles. You work on an incredibly skilled, driven, and creative team as you create new products that millions of people use. As technology is getting advanced, UX engineers must be adaptable and driven to tackle new challenges.  

As a Senior UX Engineer, you will work on the user interface of our everyday-used products and features. The work is demanding, dynamic, and constantly changing. You have shown off your analytical prowess, unwavering dedication to quality, teamwork, and cutting-edge coding abilities. You master the principles of HTML, CSS, JavaScript (not just jQuery), and various other web technologies to provide novel features to a broad audience.

Basic Requirements

  • Thorough knowledge of the target audience and important use cases. 
  • Command of design patterns and best practices.
  • One should have the ability to design at different levels. 
  • Capability to influence others.
  • A big toolbox, with a strategic mind.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 8 years of programming expertise in at least one of the following: Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, or C/C++.
  • Knowledge of Java, C++, and the Backbone, Angular, or Ember JavaScript frameworks, as well as Sass or Less CSS preprocessing tools.
  • Knowing scripting languages like Python, Ruby, etc.
  • Prototyping, wireframing, user flows, mockups.
  • Experience working with clever, extendable code and engaging aesthetic
  • Knowledge of or enthusiasm for voice assistants.

Lead UX Designer

UX Leads are usually the top individual-contributor (IC) level design positions in the company before design management roles. As a Lead UX Designer, will be expected to lead design projects, establish and update UX design processes and mentor junior designers. You will be pushing out code that affects a broad audience as a core team member, and you will be able to see the results of your features right away.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 5+ Years of end-to-end user-centric and creative design experience.
     
  • Certification in expert UX/UI design is required.
     
  • a professional with practical experience in building effective UX/UI for websites and mobile apps for iOS and Android.
     
  • Experience working for SaaS, staffing/recruiting, marketing, and advertising-related websites and apps is required.
     
  • knowledge of web-based or mobile design
     
  • Work in a results-driven atmosphere with a data-driven approach should be possible.
     
  • Your time and work management skills are off the charts
     
  • Illustrate and present design options using process flows, prototypes, and sitemaps along with thorough research and analysis
     
  • Work with cross-functional teams (Design, Content and Coding) to attain business goals
     
  • Familiarity with project management and remote collaboration tools
     
  • Experience designing apps based on Material Design and iOS Human Interface Design Guidelines
     
  • Exceptional listening, collaborative, and organizational skills
     
  • Proficient with rapid prototyping and visualization tools such as Figma, Sketch, Invision, Adobe CC, and UXPin
     
  • Expert sense & understanding of UI/UX Design principles
     
  • Excellent communicator who enjoys working in a team atmosphere.
     

We wish you the best of luck in your interview selection and hope that the Cisco preparation guide has been of great assistance to you.🤗 

Ta-dah!

Now, You are all set to go 🚀

Now it’s time for questions.🤓

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cisco interviews hard?

Due to the large number of highly competitive applications from different individuals, the Cisco interview process may prove to be somewhat challenging. As a well-known employer that values its employees, Cisco frequently receives a large number of job applications.

What distinguishes UI and UX from one another?

When using a website, app, or other electronic device, you interact with screens, buttons, toggles, icons, and other visual elements, which are referred to as user interfaces (UI). UX describes your overall interaction using a product, including your feelings during that interaction.

Is coding necessary for UX design?

Every designer has thought about this at some point. You probably have the same concerns if you're thinking about entering the field of UX/UI design. The quick response is no. Coding is not necessary for UX design.

What purposes serve UI UX?

Working with a team, a user experience (UX) designer creates products that offer users rich and enjoyable user experiences. They are concerned with every aspect of product design, including branding, usability, and design. User interface (UI) designers build the user interfaces for software and other computerised devices.

What does Cisco do?

Cisco Systems is an IT and networking brand focusing on switches, routers, cybersecurity, and IoT. Its logo can be seen on virtually every conference or office phone.

Conclusion

In this article, we thoroughly discussed Cisco's User Experience Engineer position. I hope that this article has helped you to enhance your knowledge regarding the UX role and its interview preparation as well as process if you would like to learn more, check out our articles on  

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