Senior Software Engineer – IDE & Desktop Applications

Cognichip; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunity to shape a flagship product

Collaborative and innovative startup culture

Work with world-class professionals

Job summary

A leading technology firm in Toronto seeks a Senior Software Engineer focused on developing desktop applications for an integrated IDE. The candidate will design and implement VS Code extensions, contributing to cutting-edge AI features and enhancing productivity for semiconductor design. Ideal applicants have significant experience in desktop application development and familiar with cross-platform challenges. This role offers full-time employment with a vibrant startup culture.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of software engineering experience.
• 4+ years in desktop application development.
• Experience with version control and CI/CD workflows.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain VS Code extensions.
• Develop advanced IDE features.
• Integrate the IDE with backend microservices.

Skills

Desktop application development

Electron

VS Code extensions

State management

Cross-platform application design

Tools

GitHub

Jenkins

Job description

Senior Software Engineer – IDE & Desktop Applications

At Cognichip, we are building the next-generation IDE to empower semiconductor design engineers with a 10x productivity boost through AI-native workflows and seamless integration with high-performance simulation engines.

We are seeking an experienced software engineer with expertise in desktop application development (especially Electron/VS Code extensions) to join our IDE team. This position focuses on developing and extending a VS Code–based IDE, creating deep integrations with AI, collaborative editing features, and advanced visualizations tailored for semiconductor design workflows.

Core Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain VS Code extensions and Electron-based IDE features for the Cognichip platform.
• Develop advanced IDE features such as AI-assisted coding, linting, collaborative editing, syntax highlighting, and domain-specific visualizations.
• Integrate the IDE with backend microservices and APIs, ensuring seamless performance across distributed environments.
• Build and optimize cross-platform desktop experiences (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Collaborate closely with designers to implement polished, intuitive UI/UX patterns inside the IDE.
• Contribute to performance profiling, debugging, and optimizations to ensure a responsive and reliable user experience.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of software engineering experience, with 4+ years in desktop application development (Electron, VS Code extensions, or similar IDE frameworks).
• Experience developing VS Code extensions or other plugin-based IDE architectures.
• Solid understanding of state management (e.g., Redux, Zustand) and component-driven UI frameworks.
• Knowledge of cross-platform application design (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Familiarity with performance profiling and optimization in IDE or desktop applications.
• Experience with version control and CI/CD workflows (GitHub, Jenkins, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to LLMs, AI-driven developer tools, or intelligent assistants inside IDEs.
• Knowledge of Electron internals and packaging/distribution of desktop applications.
• Experience with language parsers, syntax highlighting, lexical analysis, and editor/IDE UX patterns.
• Experience implementing authentication, permissions, and role-based access in desktop apps.
• Familiarity with semiconductor design tools or EDA workflows.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape the Cognichip IDE, a flagship product at the intersection of AI, semiconductor design, and developer productivity.
• Work alongside world‑class engineers, scientists, and product designers.
• Collaborative and innovative startup culture where your impact is direct and visible.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Software Development, Semiconductor Manufacturing

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