Senior Circuit Design Engineer - AI & HPC (7708)

TSMC - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Development opportunities

Market competitive pay

Job summary

TSMC - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited is seeking a Senior Circuit Design Engineer in San Jose, CA. The role involves designing memory circuits for AI and HPC applications while focusing on VLSI design and optimization.

With flexible hybrid work (4 days in-office), candidates must hold a Master’s or Ph.D. and have 3+ years of relevant experience. The position offers a competitive salary of $120,000 to $165,000, along with extensive benefits and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Master's degree with 3+ years of relevant industry experience, or a Ph.D. in VLSI design or custom circuits.
• Hands-on experience running SPICE simulations for custom circuits.
• In-depth knowledge of VLSI design and digital integrated circuits.

Responsibilities

• Design custom memory circuits tailored for AI and HPC applications.
• Lead Power, Performance, and Area optimization for SRAM circuits.
• Provide layout guidance and oversee design verification.

Skills

VLSI design

Verilog

Teamwork

Communication skills

SPICE simulations

Education

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in VLSI design

Tools

EDA tools

Perl

TCL

Python

Job description

Join TSMC Technology, Inc. (TTI), an innovation hub of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC). TSMC has been a pioneer in the semiconductor industry since 1987. With teams located in San Jose, CA, and Austin, TX, TTI is dedicated to advancing semiconductor technology through expertise in physical design, memory design, analog mixed signal, power management, and groundbreaking computational AI machine learning research. Our mission is to drive the future of semiconductor innovation through unparalleled R&D and customer-focused IP. Be part of a team that shapes the next generation of technological advancements.

Step into a pivotal role within our San Jose design R&D team and position yourself at the forefront of the global semiconductor industry. As a Senior Circuit Design Engineer, you will leverage TSMC's leading process technology and design enablement solutions to push the boundaries of semiconductor manufacturing. In this role, you will focus on AI and high-performance computing applications, unleashing innovation and driving next-generation advancements. You will join us in our San Jose office, operating on a hybrid work schedule with 4 days in-office.

Responsibilities

• Design custom memory circuits and architectures tailored specifically for AI and HPC applications.
• Lead efforts in Power, Performance, and Area (PPA) optimization for custom SRAM circuits to align with advanced scaling advancements.
• Perform comprehensive technical analysis, including Time/Power/Area improvements, Read/Write margin, Noise, and Power/Signal IR/EM analysis.
• Provide supervised layout guidance, manage design characterization, and oversee methodology, verification, and final sign-off.
• Collaborate closely with RTL and Physical Design (PD) teams to ensure the best IP PPA integration.
• Handle compiler coding and the interpretation of testing results.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant industry experience, or a Ph.D. demonstrating applicable academic research in VLSI design or custom circuits.
• In-depth knowledge of VLSI design, digital integrated circuits, Verilog, logic design, and DFT.
• Hands‑on experience running SPICE simulations for custom circuits.
• A collaborative mindset with a strong teamwork attitude and excellent communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of leading‑edge process nodes (TSMC N7 and below), ideally with a track record of successfully delivering product tapeouts below 5nm.
• Deep expertise in high‑speed and low‑power custom SRAM or Register File architecture and implementation.
• Prior experience acting as a technical lead for customer IP products or energy‑efficient AI inference/training accelerators is a significant asset.
• Proficiency with memory characterization and industry‑standard EDA tools.
• Familiarity with scripting and automation (Perl, TCL, Python) is highly advantageous and will allow you to hit the ground running.

Diversity Statement

TSMC Technology, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce and provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer

TSMC is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us at [e-mail]. TSMC confirms to all applicants its commitment to meet TSMC’s obligations under applicable employment law. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis.

Pay Transparency / Benefits

At TSMC, your base pay is only part of your overall total compensation package. At the time of this posting, this role typically pays a base salary between $120,000 and $165,000 per year. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hires. Actual pay may be more or less than the posted range. Factors that influence pay include the individual's skills, qualifications, education, experience and the position level and location. TSMC’s total compensation package consists of market competitive pay, allowances, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits. We also offer extensive development opportunities and programs.