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Asic Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Sr. FPGA Engineer II

Chantilly, VA

$133K - $171K/yr

Work with the hardware design team on requirements. * Complete FPGA logic design, coding ... Experience in FPGA- or ASIC-based image processing algorithms. * Experience in both creating IP ...

Work closely with RTL and physical design to ensure clean DFT integration and timing closure * Work ... Strong experience in DFT for complex ASIC/SoC designs (typically 10+ years) * Proven ownership of ...

New

Principal FPGA Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$142K - $174K/yr

Work with the hardware design team on requirements. * Complete FPGA logic design, coding ... Experience in FPGA- or ASIC-based image processing algorithms. * Experience in both creating IP ...

Showing results 21-40

Asic Design Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$93.2K

$148.9K

$200.3K

How much do asic design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for asic design engineer in Virginia is $148,907.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $130,400.00 and $178,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an ASIC design engineer?

ASIC Design Engineers are professionals who design and develop Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), which are custom-built semiconductor chips tailored for specific applications or products. They are responsible for the entire design process, including architecture definition, logic design, verification, synthesis, and sometimes physical layout. Their work is crucial in industries like consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive, and more, ensuring that devices have optimized performance, power efficiency, and functionality for their intended uses.

What does an ASIC design engineer do?

An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is an electronic circuit created for a specific purpose, rather than for general use. ASIC design engineers create product design specification (PDS) statements for ASIC, optimize logic design, and create architectural design models. ASIC design engineers often work on a team to deliver ASIC design solutions for standard and complex computing. Knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) tools, logic simulation, Verilog, and other hardware description languages (HDLs) is integral to career success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an ASIC design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an ASIC Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital logic design, and proficiency with hardware description languages like Verilog or VHDL, usually backed by a relevant degree. Familiarity with EDA tools such as Synopsys or Cadence and knowledge of simulation and verification methodologies are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork set outstanding engineers apart in this role. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering complex, high-performance integrated circuits that meet strict specifications and project deadlines.

What are some common challenges faced by ASIC design engineers during the design and verification phases?

ASIC Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as meeting strict performance and power constraints while ensuring that the design remains within budget and time limits. Debugging complex logic errors during simulation and verification can be particularly demanding, as small mistakes can have significant downstream effects. Additionally, effective communication with cross-functional teams—including software, hardware, and validation engineers—is essential to resolve integration issues and meet project milestones. Adapting to rapidly evolving tools and technologies is also a key part of the role.

What is the difference between Asic Design Engineer vs FPGA Design Engineer?

AspectAsic Design EngineerFPGA Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or Computer EngineeringBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
Work EnvironmentDesigning custom chips for manufacturingDeveloping programmable logic designs for prototyping and deployment
Industry UsageSemiconductor companies, consumer electronics, automotivePrototyping, testing, and specialized hardware applications

Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often overlap in skills like HDL programming. However, Asic Design Engineers focus on creating chips for mass production, while FPGA Design Engineers work on flexible, reprogrammable hardware for testing and specific applications.

Are ASIC design engineers in demand?

ASIC design engineers are in high demand due to the growth of semiconductor technology, consumer electronics, and data centers. Skills in hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog, along with experience in FPGA and ASIC development, increase employability in this field.

How much does an ASIC design engineer make?

The average salary for an ASIC design engineer typically ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior engineers with specialized skills in hardware description languages and verification tools can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $180,000.

What are the most commonly searched types of Asic Design Engineer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Asic Design Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What job categories do people searching Asic Design Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Asic Design Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Asic Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Asic Design Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Asic Design Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $148,907 per year, or $71.6 per hour.

$133K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago


Rocket Lab rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

SENIOR FPGA ENGINEER II

Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Sr. FPGA Engineer II based at our Optical Systems sites in Chantilly, VA, you will have the opportunity to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) using the latest FPGA technologies including Xilinx to support advanced Electro-Optical (EO/IR) technology.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO

  • Work with the hardware design team on requirements.
  • Complete FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and testing.
  • Support hardware and software development teams in bring-up and test of products.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise regarding design and automated test development procedures to customers and production support team.
  • Perform research and analysis of data, such as customer proposed specifications, datasheets, or manuals to determine design approach and/or feasibility.
  • Execute debugging of the design in the lab.
  • Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS AS FIRMWARE ENGINEER II:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering or equivalent discipline with 8+ years of experience
  • Experience in FPGA firmware design with VHDL.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain an U.S. Government Security Clearance

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: 

  • Experience with Xilinx/AMD Versal architecture
  • Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems in a radiation environment, including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation.
  • Experience in FPGA- or ASIC-based image processing algorithms.
  • Experience in both creating IP from scratch in RTL and integrating existing IP into RTL and block designs.
  • Familiarity with C, Python or MATLAB and/or experience translating algorithms from a scripted language to HDL.
  • Experience with software interfaces including interrupts and DMA.
  • Experience with DDR4, Aurora, and high-speed transceiver design and verification.
  • Familiarity with AXI Stream and AXI Memory Mapped interfaces.
  • PCB design and schematic capture and layout with tools such as Altium Designer.
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.


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