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Chip Architect Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lightmatter

Chip Architecture Leader

Boston, MA · On-site

We are hiring a Head of Chip Architecture, you will collaborate with both external partners and internal engineering teams to develop and deliver innovative, high-volume photonics products. In this ...

Piper Companies

Senior ASIC Design Engineer

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$250K - $290K/yr

Qualifications for Senior ASIC Design Engineer: * 10+ years of experience as an Chip Architect, preferably in networking or high-performance computing (Routers, Switches, GPU, CPU, Data Center, etc)

New

Nvidia

Senior I/O Subsystem Architect

Santa Clara, CA · Hybrid

We are now looking for a Senior I/O Architect for our NVLink chip to chip team! NVIDIA is seeking an experienced technical leader passionate about defining advanced chip interconnects and protocols.

Google

Chip Packaging Architect

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

As a Chip Packaging Architect on our Silicon Integration team, you will drive advanced packaging solutions (2.5D/3D/3.5D) and technologies for Machine Learning (ML) chips and custom Application ...

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Chip Architect information

See salary details

$46.5K

$128.8K

$201.5K

How much do chip architect jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for chip architect in the United States is $128,756.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $91,000.00 and $166,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Chip Architects when translating system requirements into chip designs?

Chip Architects often face the challenge of balancing performance, power consumption, and cost constraints while translating high-level system requirements into detailed chip architectures. They must ensure that their designs can be efficiently implemented in silicon, taking into account factors like manufacturability, scalability, and integration with existing hardware and software. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams—such as hardware, software, and verification engineers—is essential to address issues early and ensure alignment throughout the development process. Staying updated with rapidly evolving semiconductor technologies and industry standards is also a key part of overcoming these challenges.

What does a Chip Architect do?

A Chip Architect is responsible for designing the overall structure and functionality of integrated circuits or microchips. They define the chip's architecture, specifying how different components such as processors, memory, and interfaces work together to achieve desired performance, power, and area targets. Chip Architects collaborate with hardware engineers, software developers, and verification teams to ensure the final product meets technical specifications and industry standards. Their work is crucial for developing advanced electronics used in computers, smartphones, and other digital devices.

What is the difference between Chip Architect vs Hardware Design Engineer?

AspectChip ArchitectHardware Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields; experience in chip design and architectureBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields; focus on circuit design and implementation
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, R&D labs, collaborative project settingsDesign labs, testing facilities, manufacturing environments
Employer & Industry UsageSemiconductor companies, tech firms, integrated circuit manufacturersElectronics companies, semiconductor firms, hardware development labs

The main difference is that a Chip Architect focuses on designing the overall architecture and high-level specifications of chips, while a Hardware Design Engineer concentrates on implementing circuit designs based on specifications. Both roles require electrical engineering expertise, but the Chip Architect is more involved in conceptual and architectural decisions, whereas the Hardware Design Engineer handles detailed circuit development and testing.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chip Architect, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chip Architect, you need deep expertise in computer architecture, digital circuit design, and strong analytical skills, usually supported by an advanced degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with hardware description languages (like Verilog or VHDL), EDA tools, and simulation platforms is essential, along with knowledge of industry-standard protocols. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and leadership skills set outstanding chip architects apart when collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are crucial for designing efficient, innovative chips that meet performance, power, and cost requirements in a highly competitive technology industry.
More about Chip Architect jobs
What cities are hiring for Chip Architect jobs? Cities with the most Chip Architect job openings:
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What job categories do people searching Chip Architect jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Chip Architect jobs are:
Chip Architect jobs near you
Infographic showing various Chip Architect job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,756 per year, or $61.9 per hour.
Principal Engineer - Low Power Chip Architect / System Engineer

Principal Engineer - Low Power Chip Architect / System Engineer

Qualcomm

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago

Qualcomm rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 186 rated software companies

Job description

Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > ASICS Engineering
General Summary:
We are seeking a senior-level Low Power Chip Architect / System Engineer with deep expertise in mixed-signal IC and system design and a proven record of chip-level technical leadership. This is a high-impact role responsible for defining the architecture, driving transistor-level design, and enabling system-level integration of ultra-low-power integrated circuits (ICs) for Robotics and Industrial IoT (IIoT) applications.
The successful candidate will bridge high-performance Analog Front Ends (AFEs) with digital logic and firmware, leading programs from initial architecture and specification through simulation, verification, tape-out, and early silicon bring-up. This role requires strong cross-functional collaboration, sound architectural judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments.
** Position requires to be onsite in San Diego, 5 days a week. **
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 8+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 7+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field and 6+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
Responsibilities:
Architecture & Technical Leadership
  • Define and support end-to-end system architecture, including partitioning across analog, digital, firmware, and system domains
  • Drive architectural trade-offs across power, performance, noise, latency, and silicon area
  • Partner with chip leads and system leads from concept definition through silicon bring-up and validation

Mixed-Signal Design & Integration
  • Lead feasibility studies and transistor-level design of mixed-signal building blocks including ADCs, DACs, PLLs/DLLs, LDOs, and SerDes
  • Architect and integrate ultra-low-power AFEs optimized for battery-operated IIoT and Robotics sensor ASICs
  • Drive full-chip execution in collaboration with internal teams and third-party IP vendors and design houses

Modeling, Verification & Silicon Execution
  • Develop behavioral and system-level models using MATLAB/Simulink (or equivalent tools) to evaluate noise, linearity, and SNR
  • Perform comprehensive pre-silicon verification across PVT corners using industry-standard simulators
  • Support post-silicon bring-up, characterization, and reliability qualification, including HTOL and burn-in
  • Collaborate with packaging, test, and system teams to ensure successful productization

System & Application Enablement
  • Support multi-modal sensor data acquisition, sensor fusion, and edge AI inference workflows
  • Contribute to hardware-software integration for efficient system-level deployment

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (or related field) with 8+ years of post-degree industrial IC/system design experience OR
  • M.S. in Electrical Engineering (or related field) with 10-12+ years of industrial IC/system design experience
  • Strong expertise in low-power analog and mixed-signal (AMS) IC design
  • Hands-on experience with Cadence Virtuoso, AMS sims, verilog and related analog design tools
  • Proficiency with Spectre, HSPICE, and board-level simulation methodologies
  • Solid understanding of PDKs, LVS, DRC, and PEX flows
  • Proven experience with ESD and reliability standards (HBM, CDM, TLP)
  • Advanced academic background in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field
  • Extensive industry experience in mixed-signal IC and system-level design
  • Demonstrated experience as a Chip Lead, System Architect, or Technical Lead
  • Proven ability to drive end-to-end silicon programs from concept to production
  • Strong capability to work independently and provide technical direction with minimal supervision
  • Experience with digital design flows, including synthesis and timing analysis
  • Familiarity with firmware development and software integration
  • Working knowledge of embedded interfaces such as I2C, I3C, SPI, and MIPI
  • Proficiency in Python or similar scripting languages
  • Experience with deep submicron CMOS technologies and low-power fabrication processes
  • Exposure to IC packaging, board-level validation, and system bring-up
  • Background in sensor systems, sensor fusion, or edge AI applications

Soft Skills:
  • Strong technical leadership and ownership mindset
  • Excellent cross-functional communication and collaboration skills
  • Ability to mentor and guide engineers across analog, digital, layout, and system domains
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
  • Comfortable making architecture-level decisions under ambiguity
  • Effective at managing external vendors, IP providers, and design partners
  • Results-driven with a strong focus on execution and quality

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$192,000.00 - $288,000.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer - and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
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About Qualcomm

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. You interact with products and technologies made possible by Qualcomm every day, including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and the technology behind the smart, connected factories that manufactured your latest purchase. Our powerful connectivity solutions keep you connected—even in remote areas. Qualcomm 5G and AI innovations are the power behind the connected intelligent edge. You’ll find our technologies behind and inside the innovations that deliver significant value across multiple industries and to billions of people every day.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1985

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