Principal ASIC/SoC Design Engineer

Chelsea Search Group; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Chelsea Search Group seeks a Principal ASIC/SoC Design Engineer to drive the architectural design of complex ASICs from concept through silicon. You will collaborate across architecture, verification, physical design, and business teams to meet demanding PPA goals and deliver high-performance silicon.

The role emphasizes hands-on RTL development, constraint creation, and processor conformance within multi-site teams, with opportunities to mentor junior engineers and influence design

Qualifications

• BS/MS in electrical engineering or equivalent with a strong ASIC/SoC background.
• 10+ years direct industry experience in ASIC/SoC design.
• Proficiency in Synopsys Design Compiler and other EDA tools.
• Strong digital design fundamentals and RTL-based design using Verilog/SystemVerilog.
• Familiarity with RISC architectures (e.g., ARM, MIPS).

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design of ASICs from high-level requirements to block diagrams.
• Define chip functionality, interfaces, and performance targets with system architects.
• Develop detailed component specifications and RTL designs, optimizing for area/power/performance.
• Constrain timing for the entire chip and coordinate with physical design on place-and-route.
• Constrain and verify RISC processors within the chip and optimize performance.
• Collaborate with physical design teams on floorplanning, placement, and routing; address closure issues.
• Work with verification engineers to ensure functional correctness and help create testbenches.

Skills

RTL design principles

Leadership

Collaboration

Problem solving

Mentoring

Education

BSEE/MSEE or equivalent

Tools

Synopsys Design Compiler

EDA tools

Verilog/SystemVerilog

UNIX/Linux

shell scripting

Python/TCL scripting

Windows apps (Office)

Job description

Principal ASIC/SoC Design Engineer

Job Description

You’ll play a key role in designing and delivering complex, custom ASICs from concept through silicon. This is a highly hands‑on opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving challenging digital design problems and working across the full ASIC/SoC development flow. You’ll collaborate closely with architecture, verification, physical design, applications, and business teams to turn demanding technical requirements into high-performance silicon while optimizing for power, performance, and area (PPA). The ideal candidate is a high‑aptitude engineer who is currently designing complex digital blocks and has strong, practical experience across the complete ASIC/SoC design lifecycle. Engineers with additional experience in radiation‑hardened design, analog/mixed‑signal circuits, EDA methodologies, or standard‑cell library development will have an opportunity to apply and expand that expertise. Beyond design, you’ll help evaluate customer requirements, develop technical approaches and effort estimates for new opportunities, and influence improvements to internal design methodologies and processes.

Essential Duties and Qualifications

Chip Architecture and Development

• Lead the architectural design of ASICs based on high‑level requirements and block diagrams.
• Collaborate with system architects to define chip functionality, interfaces, and performance targets.
• Develop detailed specifications for the chip’s components.

RTL Design and Synthesis

• Use Synopsys Design Compiler to create RTL (Register Transfer Level) designs.
• Optimize RTL code for area, power, and performance.
• Implement and verify complex digital blocks.

Constraint Development

• Develop timing constraints for the entire chip.
• Work closely with physical design teams to ensure successful place‑and‑route.

RISC Processor Conformance

• Constrain and verify RISC processors within the chip.
• Optimize processor performance and power efficiency.

Physical Design Collaboration

• Collaborate with physical design teams on floorplanning, placement, and routing.
• Address any design closure issues.

Verification Support

• Work with verification engineers to ensure functional correctness.
• Assist in creating testbenches and verifying the chip’s functionality.

• Modern revision‑control tools and best‑practices in a collaborative, multi‑site design community.
• Proficiency with UNIX/Linux incl. shell scripting, text utilities (e.g., sed, awk, grep), using Modules, high‑level programming such as C/C++, PERL/Python/TCL scripting.
• Proficiency with Windows apps, incl. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Project, PDF conversion.

Required Qualifications

• BSEE/MSEE or equivalent
• 10+ years of direct industry experience with ASIC and/or SoC design.
• Proficiency in Synopsys Design Compiler and other EDA tools.
• Strong understanding of digital design principles.
• Familiarity with RISC architectures (e.g., ARM, MIPS).
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and attention to detail.
• A strong background in RTL based digital IC design using Verilog/SystemVerilog.
• Proven track record of first‑pass successes.
• A self‑starter with the ability to assume leadership roles.
• Ability to work well in a diverse team environment.
• Willingness to mentor junior engineers.
• Experience with industry standard development tools and methodologies.