Senior Design Automation Engineer - Front End Design Verification

Altera; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 188,000 - 271,000; Full time

Job summary

Altera is seeking a Senior Design Automation Engineer to join our Design Methodology, Automation and Infrastructure Team. This role focuses on building and maintaining core automation infrastructure that supports FPGA design flows—from RTL to GDSII—and accelerating development cycles for next‑generation FPGA products.

You will develop automation flows, create scripts, evaluate EDA tools, and partner with design and verification teams to drive scalable, reliable solutions and continuous

Qualifications

• 8+ years hands-on experience with Front End RTL/Design Verification EDA tools and FPGA/ASIC design flows (e.g., VCS, Xcelium, SpyGlass).
• Experience utilizing AI/ML-driven features within commercial EDA tools and/or building data pipelines and training systems for learning-based design automation.
• Proficiency in Unix/Linux environments and scripting/programming languages such as Python, Tcl, and Shell.
• Experience building flow automation tools and integrating them into complex design pipelines.
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and translate user requirements into scalable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, deploy, and support advanced design automation flows and methodologies for digital semiconductor design.
• Create scripts, tooling customizations, and automation frameworks leveraging AI-driven tools and systems to streamline complex design processes.
• Evaluate, integrate, and enhance EDA tools to improve design productivity, efficiency, and quality across the organization.
• Automate repetitive design tasks, delivering solutions that are robust, scalable, maintainable, and aligned with long-term architecture.
• Collaborate with design and verification teams to identify workflow bottlenecks and implement impactful process improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement in design automation infrastructure, methodologies, and best practices.
• Work closely with internal teams and external EDA vendors to resolve tool issues, influence roadmaps, and adopt new capabilities.

Skills

Python

Tcl

Shell

Unix/Linux

Tools

VCS

Xcelium

SpyGlass

Job description

About Altera

At Altera™, our independence as the world’s largest pure‑play FPGA solutions provider gives us the focus, speed, and agility to innovate without compromise. With more than four decades of industry‑leading FPGA expertise, our singular mission is to deliver the programmable technologies that help customers differentiate, innovate, and scale across rapidly evolving markets like AI, cloud, networking, and edge. As an independent company, we move faster, invest deeper, and partner more closely—empowering our teams to drive breakthrough innovation and shape the future of the FPGA industry.

Job Details

Job Description

About The Role

Altera is seeking a Senior Design Automation Engineer to join our Design Methodology, Automation and Infrastructure Team.

This team is responsible for building and maintaining the core automation infrastructure that supports Altera’s FPGA design flows—from RTL to GDSII. In this role, you will play a critical part in scaling our internal design productivity, delivering highly automated, reliable, and efficient flow systems that accelerate development cycles for next-generation FPGA products.

Key Responsibilities of the Senior Design Automation Engineer include but are not limited to:

• Develop, deploy, and support advanced design automation flows and methodologies for digital semiconductor design.
• Create scripts, tooling customizations, and automation frameworks leveraging AI-driven tools and systems to streamline complex design processes.
• Evaluate, integrate, and enhance EDA tools to improve design productivity, efficiency, and quality across the organization.
• Automate repetitive design tasks, delivering solutions that are robust, scalable, maintainable, and aligned with long‑term architecture.
• Collaborate with design and verification teams to identify workflow bottlenecks and implement impactful process improvements.
• Drive continuous improvement in design automation infrastructure, methodologies, and best practices.
• Work closely with internal teams and external EDA vendors to resolve tool issues, influence roadmaps, and adopt new capabilities.

Salary Range

The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.

$187,900 - $270,700 USD

We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 8+ years of hands‑on experience with Front End RTL and or Design Verification EDA tools and FPGA/ASIC design flows (e.g.,VCS, Xcelium, SpyGlass).
• Experience utilizing AI/ML-driven features within commercial EDA tools and/or building data pipelines and training systems to support learning‑based design automation.
• Proficiency in Unix/Linux environments and scripting/programming languages such as Python, Tcl, and Shell.
• Experience building flow automation tools and integrating them into complex design pipelines.
• Ability to collaborate with cross‑functional teams and translate user requirements into scalable solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant industry experience with Design Automation tools
• Experience with Front End Pre‑Silicon design verification flows
• Familiarity with advanced features of EDA tools like Lint/CDC/RDC etc.,
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner across design and CAD/EDA teams.
• Prior experience in large‑scale SoC or IP development environments.

Job Type

Regular

Shift

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location

San Jose, California, United States

Posting Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.