AI Architect – EDA & FPGA Software Development

Lattice Semiconductor; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Lattice Semiconductor is seeking an AI Architect for Software Development in San Jose, CA. The role involves defining and steering the integration of AI in our FPGA design flows, enhancing EDA tools with modern AI capabilities.

Ideal candidates will have extensive AI/ML system architecture experience, a solid foundation in software engineering, and prior work with EDA software. This full-time position offers competitive compensation and equity in a rapidly evolving field.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in AI/ML system architecture with production systems experience.
• Hands-on experience with LLMs, generative AI, and AI-driven automation.
• Strong understanding of software engineering including compilers and toolchains.
• Direct experience in EDA software and FPGA tools is essential.
• Proven track record of making architectural decisions that are successfully implemented.

Responsibilities

• Architect AI/ML systems integrated into FPGA design flows.
• Identify use cases for LLMs and generative AI in EDA tooling.
• Define AI architecture patterns, standards, and best practices.
• Evaluate emerging AI frameworks and models for relevance in EDA.
• Collaborate with software engineers and hardware teams to deploy AI capabilities.

Skills

AI/ML system architecture

Production systems

Software engineering

EDA software

FPGA tools

Code optimization

Education

MS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Job description

If You've Ever Wished EDA Tools Were Smarter — Build That.

Synthesis runtimes that take hours. Place-and-route flows that need expert intuition to tune. Constraint management that demands years of tribal knowledge. EDA software has been largely the same for decades.

We're changing that. And we need the architect who knows both worlds well enough to do it right.

The Rol

eAs AI Architect for Software Development at Lattice, you will define and drive how AI transforms our FPGA software toolchain — from synthesis and implementation to design closure and beyond. This isn't about wrapping a chatbot around existing tools. It's about rethinking where intelligence belongs in the EDA flow and building the systems that put it there.

.You'll work directly with Garik Mkrtchyan (VP Software) and partner across software, hardware, and product teams to shape the AI strategy for one of the most technically rich software domains in semiconductors.

What You'll Do

• DoArchitect AI/ML systems that integrate directly into FPGA design flows — synthesis, P&R, timing closure, constraint generation, and beyo
• ndIdentify where LLMs, ML models, and generative AI create real leverage in EDA tooling — and build those systems, not just the roadm
• apDefine AI architecture patterns, standards, and best practices across the Lattice software organizati
• onEvaluate emerging AI frameworks and models with a critical EDA lens — make opinionated calls on what gets adopted and w
• hyCollaborate with software engineers, EDA tool developers, and hardware teams to bring AI capabilities into producti
• onTranslate complex AI architecture decisions into clear direction for engineers and executives ali

What You Bring

• ingDeep expertise in AI/ML system architecture — production systems, not prototy
• pesHands-on experience with LLMs, generative AI, ML for code/tool optimization, or AI-driven automat
• ionStrong software engineering foundation — you understand compilers, toolchains, and complex software syst
• emsDirect experience in EDA software, FPGA tools, or semiconductorCAD — this is non-negotiable; the domain is the differentia
• torTrack record of architectural decisions that ship and sc
• aleMS or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field prefer
• redStrong communicator across engineering, product, and senior leaders

What This Role Is

NotThis is not a generic AI/ML role that happens to be at a semiconductor company. The problems here are deeply domain-specific — runtime prediction, timing-aware ML models, AI-assisted floorplanning, intelligent constraint checking. If EDA software is unfamiliar territory, this role will be a poor fit on both si

des.

Location

San Jose, CA — Onsite, Full-Time

Why Lattice?

We're the low power FPGA leader with 8,000+ global customers across edge, automotive, communications, and industrial. Our software tools are how those customers bring their products to life. The opportunity to apply AI here — in a domain that has barely been touched — is genuinely rare.

High autonomy | High visibility | Real domain problems | Competitive compensation +

Equity

EquityLattice Semiconductor is an equal opportunity employer.