Sr. Staff Engineer, ASIC Design

Ayar Labs, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

Ayar Labs is seeking an ASIC Sr. Staff Engineer to lead design, bring-up and debug of complex digital subsystems in an electro-optical SoC. You will work in a small IC design team, hands-on and independent, delivering clear specifications and robust RTL.

You will collaborate with analog, photonics and firmware engineers, develop testbenches, verify with XCelium/VCS/Questa, and drive timing signoff across multiple clock domains in high‑speed interconnects and optics.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of work or academic experience in ASIC design.
• Mastery of Verilog and SystemVerilog for RTL and verification.
• Proficient in ASIC verification tools (XCelium, VCS, Questa).
• Proficient in C/C++ and Python.
• Experience with SOC interconnect fabrics (AXI/AHB/APB) and multiple clock domains.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed digital algorithm specifications with analog, photonics, and firmware engineers.
• Develop and optimize RTL in Verilog for electro-optical ASICs.
• Create models and testbenches for digital and mixed-signal blocks.
• Document designs to enable backend ASIC timing signoff.
• Bringup, evaluation, and debug of in-house silicon using scripting and firmware.
• Contribute to automated design methodologies and flows.

Skills

Verilog

SystemVerilog

C/C++

Python

ASIC verification

AMBA AXI/AHB/APB

Clock domains

HDL Simulation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

XCelium

VCS

Questa

Genus/Design Compiler (preferred)

Job description

Location: San Jose (on-site)

Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models. Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures.

The ASIC Sr. Staff Engineer is responsible for the design, bring-up, and debug of complex digital subsystems within an electro-optical digital SoC. You will work in a dynamic startup environment as part of a small IC design team, with each team member expected to contribute across a broad range of tasks while gaining new skill sets to grow with the company.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on self-starter who can craft specifications based on input from colleagues, customers, and industry and who can effectively manage his or her own time to take projects to completion with limited supervision and guidance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed digital algorithm specifications in collaboration with analog, photonics, and firmware engineers
• Develop and optimize RTL in verilog for use in complex electro-optical ASICs
• Develop models and testbenches for digital and mixed-signal blocks
• Create clear documentation of their designs to enable backend ASIC engineers to perform physical implementation (clocks and timing constraints, floorplan guidance, testability) and collaborate to ensure timing signoff
• Bringup, evaluation, and debug of in-house custom silicon using python scripting, firmware, and control systems
• Contribute to automated design methodologies and flows for ASIC digital design
• Hands-on work with high-speed interconnects and optical systems

Required Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
• 5+ years of work or academic experience in ASIC design
• History of assuming responsibility for a variety of technical tasks and completing projects independently
• Mastery of Verilog and SystemVerilog for both RTL design and verification
• Proficient in ASIC verification (XCelium, VCS, Questa) tools
• Proficient in low-level programming languages (C, C++)
• Proficient in Python
• Working knowledge of digital timing constraints and ASIC tool flows
• Experience working on digital designs with multiple clock domains and clock dividers
• Experience with SOC interconnect fabrics (AMBA AXI/AHB/APB)

Preferred Qualifications

• MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
• Proficient in ASIC synthesis (Genus, Design Compiler) tools
• Proficient in writing timing constraints and deep understanding of timing analysis
• Working knowledge integrating custom blocks in a digital-top flow (LEF, lib, etc.)
• Performed silicon bring-up, debug, and evaluation
• Working knowledge of FPGAs and/or microcontroller platforms
• Working knowledge of the Cadence Virtuoso design environment, schematic entry, layout, and simulation
• Experience with DFT methodologies and flows such as scan insertion, BIST, ATPG, etc
• Knowledge of high-speed SerDes or SerDes components
• Some knowledge of optics and control systems

Salary Range: $180,000 - $223,000

Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.