Principal SerDes Systems Engineer

Synopsys, Inc.; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Total rewards package

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Synopsys, Inc. in Mississauga or Ottawa is seeking an accomplished engineer to advance high‑speed SerDes transceivers.

You will model NRZ and PAM4 links, run system simulations, and prototype calibration algorithms across PCIe and Ethernet protocols. Collaborate with analog, digital, and hardware teams; mentor peers; and contribute to silicon measurements, lab testing, and customer support to ensure robust IP delivery.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electrical or Computer Engineering or equivalent.
• Strong modeling experience with MATLAB/Simulink.
• Expertise in high-speed SerDes and CMOS circuit design.
• Solid DSP/communications theory background including equalization.
• Experience with PCIe, Ethernet, and other high-speed protocols.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain SerDes system models for NRZ and PAM4 transceivers targeting PCIe (128Gbps+) and Ethernet (200Gbps+).
• Run comprehensive system simulations to verify design performance across protocols.
• Design and propose advanced calibration algorithms for transceivers.
• Correlate simulations with silicon measurements to ensure accuracy.
• Provide expert assistance to customers for system-level performance issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams of analog, digital and hardware engineers.
• Contribute to lab testing and analysis for high-speed serial links.

Skills

MATLAB/Simulink modeling

High-speed SerDes design

DSP & communications theory

Verilog-A / SystemVerilog

Circuit design expertise

Link budget analysis

Education

M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Verilog-AMS / SystemVerilog

Job description

Locations: This role can be based in either our Mississauga or Ottawa Offices.

We Are:

At Synopsys, we drive the innovations that shape the way we live and connect. Our technology is central to the Era of Pervasive Intelligence, from self-driving cars to learning machines. We lead in chip design, verification, and IP integration, empowering the creation of high-performance silicon chips and software content. Join us to transform the future through continuous technological innovation.

You Are:

You are an accomplished engineer with deep expertise in analog, digital, and communications theory, passionate about high-speed serial-link transceiver development. With an M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electrical or Computer Engineering, you thrive in multidisciplinary environments, collaborating with analog, digital, and hardware engineers to push the boundaries of silicon IP. You bring both theoretical rigor and practical experience to every challenge, leveraging your modeling skills in MATLAB/Simulink and your hands-on knowledge of circuit design and DSP.

You are motivated by innovation and precision, continuously seeking to optimize performance across diverse protocols and channels. Your analytical mindset allows you to diagnose complex system-level issues, propose robust algorithms, and correlate simulated results with silicon measurements. You possess a strong understanding of equalization, coding, noise/crosstalk filtering, and are familiar with both wireline and optical protocols.

Beyond technical prowess, you are a collaborative problem-solver, eager to mentor peers and share knowledge. You value diversity and inclusivity, believing that the best solutions arise from collective perspectives. You adapt quickly to evolving technologies, maintain meticulous attention to detail, and communicate effectively with both technical and customer stakeholders. Your ambition is to be at the forefront of innovation, helping transform the industry and empower customers to achieve breakthrough results.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Developing and maintaining SerDes system models for NRZ and PAM4 transceivers targeting PCIe (128Gbps+) and Ethernet (200Gbps+) standards.
• Running comprehensive system simulations to verify and sign-off design performance across multiple protocols and channels.
• Designing and proposing advanced algorithms to calibrate and adapt transceivers for optimal performance.
• Correlating simulated performance with silicon measurements to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Providing expert assistance to customers for system-level performance issues and troubleshooting.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams of analog, digital, and hardware engineers throughout all stages of development.
• Contributing to lab testing and analysis for high-speed serial links, ensuring robust design validation.

The Impact You Will Have:

• Accelerate the development of bleeding-edge silicon IP, enabling rapid integration of advanced capabilities into SoCs.
• Drive innovation in high-speed SerDes design, setting industry benchmarks for performance and reliability.
• Enhance product differentiation for customers, helping them meet unique performance, power, and size requirements.
• Reduce risk and time-to-market for complex silicon products by delivering robust, predesigned IP blocks.
• Expand the reach of Synopsys’ portfolio, supporting both wireline and optical applications across global markets.
• Empower customers with technical expertise and hands-on support, ensuring successful implementations and satisfaction.

What You’ll Need:

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• Strong experience modeling circuits and systems in MATLAB/Simulink.
• Expertise in designing high-speed analog CMOS circuits.
• Solid understanding of DSP and communications theory, including equalization, coding, and noise/crosstalk filtering.
• Proficiency in analyzing link budgets for NRZ and/or PAM4 high-speed serial links.
• Familiarity with wireline protocols (PCIe, Ethernet, JESD204C, CPRI) and optical protocols (LINEAR, RTLR).
• Experience with circuit topologies used in high-speed SerDes Tx/Rx and Tx/Rx equalization techniques.
• Hands-on lab testing for high-speed serial links and proficiency in C/Verilog-A/systemVerilog.

Who You Are:

• Innovative thinker with a passion for cutting-edge technology.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Analytical problem-solver with meticulous attention to detail.
• Effective communicator, able to translate complex concepts for diverse audiences.
• Adaptable and eager to learn, keeping pace with evolving industry trends.
• Customer-focused, dedicated to delivering exceptional support and results.

The Team You’ll Be A Part Of:

You will join a dynamic R&D team at Synopsys dedicated to developing high-performance serial-link transceivers for wireline and optical applications. The team is a blend of experienced analog and digital designers, hardware engineers, and system architects, united by a shared vision to advance silicon IP technology. Collaboration, creativity, and technical excellence are at the heart of our work, with a strong culture of mentorship and innovation.

Rewards and Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings.