ASIC Chip Lead / Design Engineer

Job Description

As an ASIC Chip Lead and Design Engineer , you will play a pivotal role in the development of custom-designed Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Your expertise will span the entire chip design lifecycle, from conceptualization through implementation. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful chip development while meeting performance, power, and area targets. The ideal candidate is a highly capable, hands‑on engineer currently designing complex digital blocks with strong knowledge and experience across the complete ASIC/SoC design flow. Additional experience with radiation-hardened design, analog/mixed-signal design and EDA, and standard-cell library development is highly desirable. Additional responsibilities include evaluating customer requirements, estimating effort and expenses for potential new business, and identifying opportunities to improve internal design methodologies.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Chip Architecture & Development

• Lead the architectural design of ASICs based on high-level requirements and block diagrams.
• Collaborate with system architects to define chip functionality, interfaces, and performance targets.
• Develop detailed specifications for chip components.

RTL Design & Synthesis

• Use Synopsys Design Compiler to create and synthesize RTL designs.
• Optimize RTL code for area, power, and performance.
• Implement and verify complex digital blocks.

Constraint Development

• Develop timing constraints for the entire chip.
• Work closely with physical design teams to ensure successful place-and-route.

RISC Processor Conformance

• Constrain and verify RISC processors within the chip.
• Optimize processor performance and power efficiency.

Physical Design Collaboration

• Collaborate with physical design teams on floorplanning, placement, and routing.
• Address design closure issues throughout the development process.

Verification Support

• Work with verification engineers to ensure functional correctness.
• Assist with testbench development and verification of chip functionality.

Development Environment

• Utilize modern revision-control tools and best practices within a collaborative, multi-site design environment.
• Work proficiently within UNIX/Linux environments, including shell scripting and utilities such as sed, awk, and grep.
• Utilize high-level programming and scripting languages such as C/C++, Perl, Python, and Tcl.
• Work effectively with standard Windows applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project.

Qualifications

• Bachelor''s or Master''s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of direct industry experience in ASIC and/or SoC design.
• Strong background in RTL-based digital IC design using Verilog/SystemVerilog.
• Proficiency with Synopsys Design Compiler and other industry-standard EDA tools.
• Strong understanding of digital design principles and the complete ASIC/SoC design flow.
• Familiarity with RISC architectures, such as ARM or MIPS.
• Proven track record of first-pass silicon success.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and strong attention to detail.
• Self-starter with the ability to assume technical leadership responsibilities.
• Ability to work effectively within diverse, cross-functional engineering teams.
• Willingness and ability to mentor less experienced engineers.
• Experience with industry-standard development tools and methodologies.

Preferred Experience

• Radiation-hardened (rad-hard) ASIC design.
• Analog/mixed-signal design and EDA flows.
• Standard-cell library development.