SOC Engineering, Senior Engineer

Synopsys, Inc.; Gilbert, Northern (AZ, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Synopsys, Inc. in Gilbert, Arizona is seeking an RTL design engineer to translate RTL specifications into synthesizable Verilog/SystemVerilog and VHDL that meet timing and area constraints.

You will collaborate with verification and physical design teams to debug testbenches, close coverage gaps, and drive timing closure for real SoC designs used in automotive, aerospace, and compute applications. The role is hybrid in Gilbert, AZ, requiring clear communication across global teams and a focus on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• 3–4 years of hands-on ASIC/FPGA RTL design, implementation, and debugging.
• Strong Verilog, SystemVerilog or VHDL RTL coding for registers, pipelines, state machines, memories, and FIFOs.
• Experience with ASIC design flow from micro-architecture to RTL, synthesis, and timing closure.
• Familiarity with AXI, APB, AHB, I2C and SPI; knowledge of PCIe, DDR or Ethernet a plus.
• Verification scripting in Python or C++ and Git workflows preferred.

Responsibilities

• Write and review RTL for block designs based on micro-architecture specifications.
• Run RTL quality checks using linting, CDC/RDC analysis, and synthesis to ensure clean design before handoff to physical design.
• Collaborate with verification engineers to debug testbench failures, refine corner cases, and close coverage gaps.
• Work with physical design teams to resolve timing issues, optimize logic for synthesis, and support timing closure from netlist through signoff.
• Implement standard interface protocols including AXI, APB, AHB, I2C, and SPI within SoC subsystems.
• Use scripting in Python, Tcl, or shell to automate repetitive tasks in the design flow and improve team productivity.
• Participate in design reviews with cross-functional teams across the globe, clearly communicating design decisions and tradeoffs.

Skills

RTL design

Verilog/SystemVerilog

VHDL RTL

ASIC/FPGA RTL

Synthesis

Lint

CDC/RDC analysis

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Simulators

Lint checkers

Synthesis tools

Static timing analysis

Job description

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

You Are

You have spent the last few years deep in RTL code, turning specifications into working digital logic that actually synthesizes and meets timing. Good design is not just about functionality for you. It is about creating clean, robust RTL that enables efficient verification and predictable implementation. You know the difference between a state machine that looks clever and one that closes timing in silicon, and you care about that difference.

Reading a micro-architecture spec comes naturally. You identify ambiguities, ask the right clarifying questions, and write Verilog or SystemVerilog RTL that reflects the intended design. Protocols like AXI, APB, and AHB are not mysteries to you. They are tools you have used and debugged. You have run lint checks, fixed CDC violations, and worked through synthesis reports enough times to spot the warning that actually matters.

Working across time zones does not faze you. You write clear emails, show up prepared to design reviews, and know when to elevate a question versus when to make a call and move forward. At Synopsys, you will work on real SoC designs for customers building everything from automotive systems to high-performance compute, and what you design will go to silicon.

What You'll Be Doing

• Write and review Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL RTL for block-level designs including state machines, pipelines, FIFOs, and memory controllers based on micro-architecture specifications
• Run RTL quality checks using tools like linting, CDC/RDC analysis, and synthesis to ensure your design is clean before handoff to physical design
• Collaborate with verification engineers to debug testbench failures, refine corner cases, and close coverage gaps
• Work with physical design teams to resolve timing issues, optimize logic for synthesis, and support timing closure from netlist through signoff
• Implement standard interface protocols including AXI, APB, AHB, I2C, and SPI within SoC subsystems
• Use scripting in Python, Tcl, or shell to automate repetitive tasks in the design flow and improve team productivity
• Participate in design reviews with cross-functional teams across the globe, clearly communicating design decisions and tradeoffs

The Impact You Will Have

• Contribute RTL blocks that achieve timing, area, and power targets while minimizing design iterations
• Deliver full SoC designs that ship in products for automotive, aerospace, defense, and high-performance computing customers
• Improve design quality and reduce downstream debug time by catching issues early through disciplined use of lint, CDC, and synthesis checks
• Enable faster project ramp by writing clear design documentation and participating in knowledge transfer across global teams
• Help refine internal design flows and methodologies by identifying bottlenecks and proposing automation or process improvements
• Support customer-specific design requirements by translating high-level specs into implementable RTL that meets project constraints
• Build reusable IP blocks and design patterns that accelerate future projects across the Solutions group

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
• 3 to 4 years of hands-on experience in ASIC or FPGA RTL design, implementation, and debug
• Strong proficiency in Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL RTL coding for registers, pipelines, state machines, memories, and FIFOs
• Working knowledge of the ASIC design flow from micro-architecture through RTL development, synthesis, and timing closure
• Experience using industry-standard tools such as simulators, lint checkers, CDC/RDC analysis tools, synthesis tools, and static timing analysis is preferred
• An understanding of standard interface protocols including AXI, APB, AHB, I2C, and SPI is preferred
• Experience with more complex protocols like PCIe, DDR, or Ethernet is a plus, as is familiarity with SystemVerilog assertions, C++, or Python for verification or scripting tasks, low-power design methodologies and UPF, DFT requirements, Git-based development flows, formal verification tools, or AI-assisted engineering tools and code-generation assistants

Who You Are

• You can read a micro-architecture document, identify the gaps or ambiguities, and ask the right clarifying questions before you start coding
• You write RTL with the downstream flow in mind, knowing that a design that synthesizes cleanly and meets timing saves everyone time later
• You communicate clearly across teams and time zones, whether that is a concise email to a verification engineer in India or a design review with stakeholders in Sunnyvale
• You stay organized when managing multiple tasks, tracking your own work, following up on open issues, and not letting details slip through the cracks
• You are disciplined about running checks and closing loops, not handing off code until lint is clean and CDC issues are resolved
• You are comfortable working with teams in different geographies and adapting your communication style to make sure nothing gets lost in translation

The Team You'll Be Part Of

You will join the Solutions group, a global team that delivers end-to-end SoC designs for customers ranging from startups to industry leaders in automotive, aerospace, defense, and high-performance computing. The team spans globally and works on everything from RTL design and verification to physical implementation and turnkey SoC delivery. You will collaborate daily with verification, DFT, and physical design engineers, and your work will directly support customer products that go to silicon. The team values clear communication, disciplined execution, and a willingness to learn, and you will have access to internal training and mentorship as you ramp on new projects and technologies. This is a hybrid role based in Gilbert, Arizona.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.