Principal VLSI Design Engineer

Ampere; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking semiconductor design company that is redefining the future of computing. As a Principal VLSI Design Engineer, you will play a crucial role in designing high-performance memory arrays for cutting-edge ARM server CPUs. Collaborate with talented teams to tackle complex challenges, optimize circuit designs, and ensure robust hardware validation. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to sustainable cloud computing solutions and work in an inclusive environment that values innovation and growth. If you're passionate about VLSI design and eager to make an impact, we invite you to apply and help shape the future with us.

Benefits

Premium medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K retirement plan

Unlimited Flextime

10+ paid holidays

Healthy snacks

Energizing espresso

Refreshing drinks

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in VLSI design and circuit analysis.
• Strong understanding of power/performance trade-offs in circuit solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design high-performance memory arrays for ARM server CPUs.
• Analyze area/power/performance trade-offs and implement optimal solutions.

Skills

VLSI circuits

Analytical skills

Circuit design techniques

Programming in Perl/TCL/Python

Education

BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering

MS in Electrical or Computer Engineering

PhD in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Cadence design suite

Circuit simulation tools

Job description

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Invent the future with us.

Recognized by Fast Company’s 2023 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators List, Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient, sustainable cloud computing.

Description

Invent the future with us.

Recognized by Fast Company’s 2023 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators List, Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient, sustainable cloud computing.

By providing a new level of predictable performance, efficiency, and sustainability Ampere is working with leading cloud suppliers and a growing partner ecosystem to deliver cloud instances, servers and embedded/edge products that can handle the compute demands of today and tomorrow.

Join us at Ampere and work alongside a passionate and growing team — we’d love to have you apply. Come invent the future with us.

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced VLSI Design Engineer to join our growing Ampere Circuit Team, advancing the art of high performance CPU circuit design. You will design high performance memory arrays from concept to hardware validation, for use in Ampere’s state-of-the-art ARM server CPU. You will work across several teams – logic, dft, pd, etc. to identify the array requirements, analyze the area/power/performance trade-offs of different solutions, and implement the optimal solution.

What You'll Achieve

• Schematic/layout design
• Bitcell analysis
• Understanding area/power/performance trade-offs in array design
• Performing EMIR analysis to evaluate signal & powergrid robustness
• Equivalence checking between spice and behavioral models
• Circuit robustness checks
• Timing model generation and verification
• Hardware validation
  
  

About You

• Strong understanding of VLSI circuits, design techniques, and device physics
• Strong analytical skills with ability to create, measure, and evaluate tradeoffs between different circuit solutions to optimize for power, frequency and area
• Familiarity with Cadence design suite for layout and schematic entry
• Familiarity with circuit simulation tools
• Familiarity with design-for-test concepts
• Ability to program in perl/tcl/python
• Electrical or Computer Engineering: BS and 8 years of related experience; or MS and 6 years of related experience; or PhD and 3 years of related experience
  
  

What We’ll Offer

At Ampere we believe in taking care of our employees and providing a competitive total rewards package that includes base pay, bonus (i.e., variable pay tied to internal company goals), long-term incentive, and comprehensive benefits. The full base pay range for this role is between $140,500 and $234,500, except in the San Francisco Bay Area where the range is between $152,500 and $254,000.

Our benefits include health, wellness, and financial programs that support employees through every stage of life, with full benefits eligibility at 20 hours per week.

Benefit Highlights Include

• Premium medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, as well as income protection and a 401K retirement plan, so that you can feel secure in your health and financial future.
• Unlimited Flextime and 10+ paid holidays so that you can embrace a healthy work-life balance.
• A variety of healthy snacks, energizing espresso, and refreshing drinks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day.
  
  

And there is much more than compensation and benefits. At Ampere, we foster an inclusive culture that empowers our employees to do more and grow more. We are passionate about inventing industry leading cloud-native designs that contribute to a more sustainable future. We are excited to share more about our career opportunities with you through the interview process.

Ampere is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Engineering and Information Technology

• Industries

  Semiconductor Manufacturing

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