Senior Digital ASIC Design Engineer

Draper Labs; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 82,300 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Workplace flexibility

Employee clubs

Health/finance workshops

Off-site social events

Local museum discounts

Job summary

Draper is seeking a Senior Digital ASIC Designer to create high‑performance digital ASICs from RTL through synthesis, collaborating with cross‑functional teams in Cambridge, MA. The role emphasizes rigorous architectural and implementation work across advanced nodes.

Requires 7–10 years with a bachelor’s degree or 5–10 years with a master’s; on‑site work in Cambridge and active US secret clearance. Base salary ranges widely with strong total compensation potential.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 5–10 years with a master’s degree in ASIC hardware engineering or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Design and simulate transistor-level circuits to implement architecture and requirement specifications
• Contribute to system-level design
• Optimize hardware designs for performance, power, and cost
• Evaluate the feasibility of complex algorithms and requirements
• Contribute independently to complex chip architectures and designs
• Drive solutions to complex problems, develop requirements, and adapt when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete
• 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; contribute to design-for-test development
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

IC design

SystemVerilog/Verilog/VHDL

Cadence/Synopsys

Team leadership

communication

problem solving

time management

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Master's preferred

Tools

Cadence

Synopsys

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 cross‑fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation.

Job Description Summary

As Senior Digital ASIC Designer, you will design high‑performance digital ASICs in advanced technologies, from RTL through synthesis, and collaborate on multidisciplinary teams across various application areas.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Design and simulate transistor‑level circuits to implement architecture and requirement specifications
• Contribute to system‑level design
• Optimize hardware designs for performance, power, and cost
• Evaluate the feasibility of complex algorithms and requirements
• Contribute independently to complex chip architectures and designs
• Drive solutions to complex problems, develop requirements, and adapt when customer requirements are unclear or incomplete
• 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; contribute to design‑for‑test development
• 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 lead multi‑disciplinary technical teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent mathematical skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time‑management skills with proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks
• Demonstrated strong organization, planning, and time‑management skills to achieve program goals

Education

Requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

Requires 7–10 years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 5–10 years of experience with a master’s degree in ASIC hardware engineering or related fields.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with low‑power circuit design
• Experience with CMOS advanced nodes below 32nm
• Experience with radiation‑hardened electronics

Additional Job Description

• Solid skills in front‑end digital systems design with experience in Cadence or Synopsys design flows
• Fluency in SystemVerilog, Verilog or VHDL and familiarity with lint, simulation, and synthesis
• Familiarity with secure‑systems architectures such as cryptographic encoders/decoders or tagged processor architectures is a plus
• Demonstrated experience with successful tape‑outs at advanced nodes; experience leading and managing design teams is desired

Security Clearance

Active US secret clearance is required. Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance.

Location

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139‑3563. This position requires onsite work in Cambridge, MA.

Compensation

Base salary range: $82,300.00 – $220,000.00 (US only).

Benefits

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.

EEO Statement

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].