Founding Circuit Design Engineer – Memory

SBT; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

SBT, an early-stage semiconductor startup in the United States, is developing a fundamentally new approach to memory technology for AI and high‑performance computing. You will join at the ground level to shape the future of emerging memory devices and architectures.

The role focuses on analog, mixed-signal, and custom digital IC design, driving memory macro concepts from transistor-level ideas through tape-out, with close collaboration across device physics, process technology, and system teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in analog, mixed-signal or custom digital IC design.
• Understanding of memory macros, bitcells, sensing circuits, and read/write operations.
• Exposure to emerging memory devices or unconventional circuit architectures.
• Experience with circuit simulation and industry-standard EDA tools.
• Knowledge of semiconductor device physics and its impact on circuit performance.
• Track record of designing, implementing, or taping out a memory macro or array architecture.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop memory cells, arrays, sensing, read/write, and peripheral circuits.
• Translate device characteristics into transistor-level circuit implementations.
• Drive circuit architecture, simulation, optimization, and physical implementation through tape-out and silicon validation.
• Collaborate across device physics, process technology, circuit design, and system architecture.
• Explore memory architectures targeting AI acceleration, HPC, and data-intensive apps.
• Help establish design methodologies and technical direction as an early team member.

Skills

Analog IC design

Mixed-signal design

Memory circuits

Transistor-level design

Circuit verification

Device physics

Tools

Cadence Virtuoso

HSPICE

SPICE

Synopsys

Job description

This client is a well-funded, early-stage semiconductor startup developing a fundamentally new approach to memory technology for next-generation AI and high-performance computing. The company is focused on overcoming traditional limitations in memory performance, efficiency, and scalability through innovative device and circuit design. This is a unique opportunity to join at the ground level and help shape the future of emerging memory technology.

Role

• Design and develop novel memory cells, arrays, sensing, read/write, and peripheral circuits.
• Translate emerging memory device characteristics into practical transistor-level circuit implementations.
• Drive circuit architecture, simulation, optimization, and physical implementation through tape-out and silicon validation.
• Collaborate across device physics, process technology, circuit design, and system architecture.
• Explore innovative memory architectures targeting AI acceleration, high-performance computing, and data-intensive applications.
• Help establish foundational design methodologies and technical direction as an early member of the engineering team.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in analog, mixed-signal, or custom digital IC design, particularly memory-related circuits and architectures.
• Demonstrated understanding of transistor-level design, memory arrays, sensing circuits, and read/write operations.
• Exposure to emerging memory devices, novel semiconductor technologies, or unconventional circuit architectures.
• Experience with circuit simulation, design verification, and industry-standard EDA tools.
• Understanding of semiconductor device physics and the relationship between device characteristics and circuit performance.
• Designed, implemented, or taped out a novel memory macro, bitcell, sensing circuit, or array architecture.