AI-Driven Hardware Design Architect

Altera Corporation; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 206,000 - 303,000; Full time

Job summary

Altera Corporation in California seeks an AI Lead in HW Engineering to define and drive the company's AI strategy for chip design and to lead deployment into design and verification workflows. This senior, individual-contributor role emphasizes deep hardware/EDA credibility, change-agent influence, and hands-on tooling development across design, verification, and implementation.

You will partner with CAD, IT, and multiple engineering teams to measure impact, govern AI adoption, and mentor peers

Qualifications

• 12+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor/hardware design, verification, or implementation.
• Demonstrated experience applying AI/ML techniques to real engineering workflows, ideally within chip design, verification, or physical implementation.
• Proficiency in Python and modern ML/LLM tooling; hands-on in at least one: LLM fine-tuning, retrieval-augmented generation, agentic frameworks, or ML for EDA data.
• Experience leading technical initiatives and driving adoption without direct management authority.
• Ability to engage senior customers and navigate challenging technical conversations with credibility and diplomacy.
• Formal education or equivalent practical experience in EE/CE/CS.

Responsibilities

• Define AI strategy for AI/ML in hardware design, verification, and implementation.
• Lead end-to-end deployment of AI-driven tools into production design workflows.
• Build and own AI tooling stack for design data, script generation, and triage.
• Establish evaluation, versioning, monitoring, and retirement of AI tools.
• Partner with CAD and IT to ensure data availability and governance for ML use.
• Collaborate with design, verification, DFT, and EDA teams to implement AI-based solutions.
• Act as a change agent to drive adoption and mitigate disruption from new workflows.
• Evaluate AI technologies and vendors and provide build-vs-buy guidance.
• Communicate progress and impact to senior stakeholders and customers.

Skills

AI/ML techniques

Python

LLM tooling

Leadership without authority

EDA design flows

Strong communication

Education

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

Tools

EDA tools

Job description

Altera Corporation in California seeks an AI Lead in HW Engineering to define and drive the company's AI strategy for chip design and to lead deployment into design and verification workflows. This senior, individual-contributor role emphasizes deep hardware/EDA credibility, change-agent influence, and hands-on tooling development across design, verification, and implementation.

You will partner with CAD, IT, and multiple engineering teams to measure impact, govern AI adoption, and mentor peers