Staff Software Engineer – Developer Tooling

Cognichip; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package including equity

Opportunity to shape the Cognichip IDE

Collaborative and innovative startup culture

Job summary

Cognichip is looking for an experienced Staff Software Engineer focused on Developer Tooling to develop advanced IDE features using Electron and VS Code extensions. This role involves designing and maintaining desktop application features, integrating AI, and collaborating to enhance user experience. Candidates should have significant experience in desktop applications, expertise in TypeScript and JavaScript, and knowledge of cross-platform application design. Join us to shape the future of semiconductor design tools at Cognichip.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of software engineering experience, with 4+ years in desktop application development.
• Strong proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, React, and ES6+.
• Experience developing VS Code extensions or other plugin-based IDE architectures.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain VS Code extensions and Electron-based IDE features.
• Develop advanced IDE features such as AI-assisted coding and collaborative editing.
• Integrate the IDE with backend microservices and APIs.

Skills

Software engineering experience

Desktop application development

TypeScript

JavaScript

React

Cross-platform application design

Performance profiling

Version control

Job description

Job Title

Staff Software Engineer – Developer Tooling

Job Description

At Cognichip, we are building the next-generation IDE to empower semiconductor design engineers with a 10x productivity boost through AI-native workflows and seamless integration with high-performance simulation engines. We are seeking an experienced software engineer with expertise in desktop application development (especially Electron/VS Code extensions) to join our IDE team. Unlike traditional web roles, this position focuses on developing and extending a VS Code–based IDE, creating deep integrations with AI, collaborative editing features, and advanced visualizations tailored for semiconductor design workflows.

Core Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain VS Code extensions and Electron-based IDE features for the Cognichip platform.
• Develop advanced IDE features such as AI-assisted coding, linting, collaborative editing, syntax highlighting, and domain‑specific visualizations.
• Integrate the IDE with backend microservices and APIs, ensuring seamless performance across distributed environments.
• Build and optimize cross-platform desktop experiences (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Collaborate closely with designers to implement polished, intuitive UI/UX patterns inside the IDE.
• Contribute to performance profiling, debugging, and optimizations to ensure a responsive and reliable user experience.

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of software engineering experience, with 4+ years in desktop application development (Electron, VS Code extensions, or similar IDE frameworks).
• Strong proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, React, and ES6+.
• Experience developing VS Code extensions or other plugin-based IDE architectures.
• Solid understanding of state management (e.g., Redux, Zustand) and component‑driven UI frameworks.
• Knowledge of cross‑platform application design (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Familiarity with performance profiling and optimization in IDE or desktop applications.
• Experience with version control and CI/CD workflows (GitHub, Jenkins, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to LLMs, AI‑driven developer tools, or intelligent assistants inside IDEs.
• Knowledge of Electron internals and packaging/distribution of desktop applications.
• Experience with language parsers, syntax highlighting, lexical analysis, and editor/IDE UX patterns.
• Experience implementing authentication, permissions, and role‑based access in desktop apps.
• Familiarity with semiconductor design tools or EDA workflows.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to shape the Cognichip IDE, a flagship product at the intersection of AI, semiconductor design, and developer productivity.
• Competitive compensation package including equity.
• Work alongside world‑class engineers, scientists, and product designers.
• Collaborative and innovative startup culture where your impact is direct and visible.