ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Assistant Computer Chip Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

Nova Ltd.

Mechanical Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$110K - $130K/yr

Description We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our multi-disciplinary team focused ... computer chip built in the world. Nova dives deep into dimensions and layers at the atomic level to ...

Nova Measuring Instruments

Firmware Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$130 - $170/hr

The engineer will collaborate closely with electrical and systems engineering teams to integrate ... computer chip built in the world. Nova dives deep into dimensions and layers at the atomic level to ...

Nova Ltd.

Firmware Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

The engineer will collaborate closely with electrical and systems engineering teams to integrate ... computer chip built in the world. Nova dives deep into dimensions and layers at the atomic level to ...

Astera Labs

Chip Lead, Senior Director

San Jose, CA · On-site

Drive chip development execution from RTL to GDSII, ensuring architecture, implementation, and ... Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field * 15+ years of ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsComputer Chip Engineer JobsAssistant Computer Chip Engineer JobsAssistant Computer Chip Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

Assistant Computer Chip Engineer information

See Santa Clara, CA salary details

$38.8K

$104.2K

$158K

How much do assistant computer chip engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for assistant computer chip engineer in Santa Clara, CA is $104,236.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,800.00 and $122,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Assistant Computer Chip Engineer vs Hardware Design Engineer?

AspectAssistant Computer Chip EngineerHardware Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or Computer EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, semiconductor companies, tech firmsDesign firms, semiconductor companies, tech corporations
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in tech and semiconductor industriesUsed in hardware development and chip design sectors
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The Assistant Computer Chip Engineer typically supports chip development through testing and analysis, often working under senior engineers. Hardware Design Engineers focus on designing and developing the physical architecture of chips. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are integral to the semiconductor industry, but they differ mainly in responsibilities and focus areas.

How much does an assistant computer chip engineer make?

An assistant computer chip engineer typically earns between $70,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Entry-level positions may start lower, while those with specialized skills in hardware design or verification can earn higher salaries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Computer Chip Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA?

The most popular types of Computer Chip Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Assistant Computer Chip Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA?

For Assistant Computer Chip Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Assistant Computer Chip Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Assistant Computer Chip Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:

What cities near Santa Clara, CA are hiring for Assistant Computer Chip Engineer jobs?

Cities near Santa Clara, CA with the most Assistant Computer Chip Engineer job openings:

Assistant Computer Chip Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assistant Computer Chip Engineer job openings in Santa Clara, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 80% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,236 per year, or $50.1 per hour.

Applied Research Engineer, Chip Design

Nvidia Corporation

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday

Nvidia rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 246 rated software companies

Job description

NVIDIA has been redefining computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years! It's an outstanding legacy of innovation that's fueled by phenomenal technology-and outstanding people! We are seeking a world-class engineer to drive applied research at the intersection of AI and ASIC design. Large language models, coding agents, and agentic AI are transforming how chips get designed, and this role puts you at the frontier - applying the latest and greatest AI to NVIDIA's real ASIC design flows and pushing past the limits of what's currently possible. Widely considered one of the technology world's most desirable employers, NVIDIA brings together forward-thinking, hardworking people inventing the future. If you're a creative, collaborative researcher who wants your work to land in real silicon on a real schedule, we want to hear from you.
What you'll be doing:
  • Apply LLMs, coding agents, and agentic systems - to core ASIC design problems: RTL generation, Design and Formal verification, PPA prediction and optimization.
  • Hands-on experience with LLMs, RL, RLHF/RLAIF, post-training, evaluation, graders, synthetic data, model training, coding agents, tool-using agents, and production ML systems
  • Deliver against NVIDIA's internal chip design schedules and activities - your success is measured by how much faster the ASIC teams move, not by research output alone.
  • Build robust data generation (including synthetic data) and meticulous evaluation methodology that separates working systems from demos and use evaluation to decide what to automate next.
  • Wire coding agents and agentic AI into EDA and validation flows - simulation, regressions, waveform and log analysis, script generation - so engineers can drive complex tasks and cut ramp time.
  • Push the limits of what's possible in chip design with models and research harnesses on top of open-source foundations and iterating fast from prototype to production.
  • Partner closely with NVIDIA's internal Nemotron team to improve our models with domain-specific data, feedback, and post-training, feeding ASIC-design expertise back into the models.

What we need to see:
  • MS or PhD or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, or related field.
  • 8+ years of proven industry experience
  • Domain and technical expertise in front-end ASIC (design, verification, timing) combined with project experience applying agentic AI to chip design and optimization problems, with a track record of driving ideas from conception through experimentation to production.
  • Hands-on experience building LLM-based agents or AI tooling that real users depend on context engineering, tool integration, orchestration, and failure analysis, with a focus on evaluation.
  • Experience with custom model training, fine-tuning, or post-training (SFT, RLHF/DPO) over proprietary technical data.
  • Excellent self-motivation, creativity, and a passion for applied research, plus tight-knit collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively within a team.
  • Experience building and maintaining infrastructure (Docker, Slurm, CI/CD, etc.).
  • Excellent written and verbal communication, with proven experience presenting and explaining complex technical work.

#LI-Hybrid
Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 192,000 USD - 304,750 USD for Level 4, and 224,000 USD - 356,500 USD for Level 5.
You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.
Applications for this job will be accepted at least until July 27, 2026.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.
NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

What Nvidia employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Nvidia logo

About Nvidia

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. Today, we're tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what's never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world's best talent.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1993

View All Nvidia Jobs

Apply