Senior Digital ASIC Architect

Draper; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 82,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-life balance programs

Security clearance support

Job summary

Draper in Cambridge, Massachusetts seeks a Senior Digital ASIC Architect to lead digital IC design from concept through delivery. You will develop architectural concepts, model and simulate, and work with analog and digital teams to optimize SOC designs for performance, power, and cost.

The role requires strong leadership, verification planning, and experience with System Verilog and Cadence tools. Excellent communication and mentoring skills are essential for guiding engineers and delivering

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field; master’s preferred.
• 5–7 years of ASIC hardware engineering experience (or 3–5 with a master’s; 0–2 with a PhD).
• Proficiency with Cadence or equivalent IC design tools (Genus, Innovus, Tempus, Voltus) and System Verilog-based verification.

Responsibilities

• Independently drive IC-based solutions for complex problems.
• Lead SOC design trades between analog, digital, and software implementations.
• Review and mentor circuit designers; participate in top-level verification planning.
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to engineers.

Skills

Integrated circuit design

System Verilog

Hardware-software tradeoffs

Team leadership

Architectural concepts

Modeling & simulation

Documentation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Cadence

Genus

Innovus

Tempus

Voltus

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

A Senior Digital ASIC Architect leads the design of digital integrated circuits from conceptual phases through detailed design, implementation, verification, test and delivery to our customers. The Architect is responsible for developing initial architectural concepts and vetting them through modeling, analysis, and simulation. The Architect works with both Analog and Digital Circuit Designers to identify opportunities for trades across domains which enable the most efficient design solution. The Architect develops top level and circuit-level specifications, develops conceptual circuit designs, reviews detailed block-level designs during implementation, conducts chip level-planning with implementation team, and provides inputs to verification and test planning.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Independently drive integrated circuit-based solutions to complex customer problems.
• Develop chip-level integrated circuit requirements based on customer needs.
• Design and simulate circuits using functional modeling tools (e.g. MATLAB, Simulink, System Verilog, System C)
• Review and mentor individual circuit designers, providing design expertise and conducting requirements adjustments across circuits when necessary
• Perform System-on-chip (SOC) design trades between analog, digital hardware, and software implementations to deliver optimized designs.
• Evaluate feasibility and costs/benefits of algorithm implementation in hardware vs software.
• Participate in top level verification planning with verification team.
• Lead multidisciplinary design teams, providing clear and effective communication to the team and project manager.
• Participate in technical project planning and provide technical inputs to business development activities.
• Deliver presentations of technical solutions to project leadership and customers.
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers.
• Develop design documentation, e.g. architectural description, interface definition, and requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Description

• Design and simulate circuits at transistor-level to implement architecture and requirement specifications
• Contribute to system-level design
• Optimize hardware designs for performance, power, and cost
• Evaluate the hardware feasibility of complex algorithms and requirements
• Independently contribute to complex chip architectures and designs
• Independently drive solutions to complex problems - develop requirements, propose ways forward when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements
• Contribute to business development and proposal activities
• Develop, document, and teach best practices to less experienced engineers
• Perform or guide physical layout, including floor-planning, and simulate circuits using extracted parasitics.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills/Abilities

• Proficiency in integrated circuit design
• Understanding of integrated circuits, semiconductors, and general computer architecture
• Ability to write detailed design specifications
• Ability to manage small technical teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent mathematical skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks
• Demonstrate strong organization, planning, and time management skills to achieve program goals

Education

• Requires a bachelor's degree in Engineering, or related field. Masters degree preferred.

Experience

• Requires 5-7 years of experience with a bachelor's degree, or 3-5 years of experience with a master's degree, or 0-2 years of experience with a PhD in ASIC Hardware Engineering or related.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with Cadence or equivalent integrated circuit design tools e.g. Genus, Innovus, Tempus, Voltus
• Expertise in high level modeling & mixed-signal verification tools such as System Verilog, SV-RNM, Verilog-AMS
• Proficient in scripting for automating aspects of the design, implementation, verification, and test flows.
• Experience in top level design for previous tape outs.

Job Location

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139-3563

Compensation

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $82,300.00 - $220,000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Work-Life Balance

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility, employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga, health and finance workshops, off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities.

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].