Digital - SerDes Digital Design Lead

Eliyan Corporation; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Eliyan Corporation in San Francisco seeks a SerDes Digital Design Lead to drive architecture for next-generation high-speed serial link IPs targeting 224G and 448G data rates. The role involves leading digital design for both transmitter and receiver datapaths while collaborating with cross-functional experts to innovate in high-performance products.

Suitable candidates will hold a Masters or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering with over 12 years in digital design, showcasing deep knowledge in SerDes architectures and RTL design skills.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in digital design of high-speed SerDes, PHY, or transceiver IPs.
• Strong understanding of synthesis, timing closure, CDC/RDC, and DFT methodologies.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and ability to mentor engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the micro-architecture definition and RTL implementation of high-speed SerDes digital blocks.
• Design and optimize PHY-level digital logic including TX driver control and RX datapath.
• Collaborate closely with analog designers on SerDes AFE integration and AMS co-simulation.

Skills

RTL design skills in SystemVerilog

Expert-level knowledge of SerDes DSP architectures

Hands-on experience with high-speed digital design

Strong working knowledge of IEEE 802.3 specifications

Experience with optical/electrical interconnects

Education

Masters or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Job description

Join the leading chiplet startup! As the SerDes Digital Design Lead at Eliyan, you will drive the architecture and implementation of next-generation high-speed serial link IPs targeting 224G and 448G data rates for chiplet-based systems with best-in-class power, area, manufacturability, and design flexibility. You will lead the digital design of SerDes transmitter and receiver datapaths, clock and data recovery (CDR) digital logic, equalization engines, and PHY-level controller logic for cutting-edge interconnect products. You will work with a cross-functional team of experts that operate from first principles, innovate and push the envelope to create high-volume and high-performance manufacturable products. We offer a fun work environment with excellent benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the micro-architecture definition and RTL implementation of high-speed SerDes digital blocks targeting 224G PAM4 and 448G signaling, including DSP-based equalization (FFE, DFE, CTLE digital controls), CDR loop logic, and adaptation engines
• Design and optimize PHY-level digital logic including TX driver control, RX datapath, PCS sublayers, lane alignment, deskew, and gear-boxing/rate-matching logic
• Architect and implement forward error correction (FEC) encoder/decoder blocks including RS-FEC (KP4/KP8), interleaving, and low-latency FEC architectures optimized for 224G/448G link budgets
• Drive RTL design quality through lint, CDC/RDC analysis, synthesis optimization, and close collaboration with physical design and timing closure teams on advanced FinFET/GAA process nodes
• Collaborate closely with analog/mixed-signal designers on SerDes AFE integration, digital-to-analog interface specification, calibration sequencing, and AMS co-simulation bring-up
• Own design deliverables and milestones from RTL development through tapeout signoff; coordinate with verification, DFT, and backend teams to meet aggressive schedules
• Define and implement auto-negotiation, link training, and PHY initialization state machines compliant with IEEE 802.3
• Develop power-efficient digital architectures with emphasis on clock gating, voltage scaling, and low-power design techniques for data center and AI/ML interconnect applications
• Participate in standards bodies and stay current with emerging 224G/448G specifications, OIF CEI, and next-generation interconnect standards
• Design firmware-accessible register interfaces, configuration/calibration logic, and DPI-based firmware co-simulation hooks for PHY bring-up and debug
• Support post-silicon characterization and debug activities; correlate silicon measurements with pre-silicon simulation results to drive design improvements

Qualifications

• Masters or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
• 12+ years of experience in digital design of high-speed SerDes, PHY, or transceiver IPs with proven tapeout experience at 112G PAM4 or higher data rates
• Strong RTL design skills in SystemVerilog with deep understanding of synthesis, timing closure, CDC/RDC, and design-for-test (DFT) methodologies
• Expert-level knowledge of SerDes DSP architectures including FFE, DFE, MLSE, CTLE digital controls, CDR loop dynamics, and adaptation/calibration algorithms for PAM4 signaling
• Strong working knowledge of IEEE 802.3 (100G/200G/400G/800G/ 1.6T ), OIF CEI specifications, FEC architectures (RS-FEC KP4/KP8), and/or die-to-die standards such as UCIe
• Hands‑on experience with high-speed digital design on advanced process nodes (5nm, 3nm, or below) with understanding of FinFET/GAA device implications on circuit performance and power
• Experience working at the digital‑analog boundary including specification of DAC/ADC interfaces, calibration state machines, and integration with mixed-signal simulation environments
• Demonstrated technical leadership with ability to mentor engineers, drive architectural decisions, and deliver silicon on aggressive schedules in startup or high‑growth environments
• Experience with optical/electrical interconnects (VCSEL, EML), chiplet D2D interfaces, DRAM PHYs, or HBM memory interfaces a plus