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Chip Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Chip Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

San Francisco Bay Area, CA · Hybrid · Full-time We are looking for a Chip Design Engineer who works on strategic customer engagements, developing custom IP and optimizing designs for power ...

$110 - $170/hr

Role Description This is a full-time, on-site position for a Solutions Engineer, AI for Chip Design based in San Jose, CA or Hsinchu, Taiwan. In this role, you will: * Deploy agentic AI systems into ...

New

ASIC Chip Design Lead

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$250 - $280/hr

The company is in execution mode and has a world-class engineering team with decades of experience ... Position Overview We are seeking a hands-on ASIC Chip Design Lead to own chip design execution from ...

ASIC Chip Design Lead

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$250K - $280K/yr

The company is in execution mode and has a world-class engineering team with decades of experience ... Position Overview We are seeking a hands-on ASIC Chip Design Lead to own chip design execution from ...

$150 - $230/hr

Agentrys Studio combines AI agents, engineering knowledge, agent-native tools, advanced models, and continuous learning to automate complex chip-design workflows. Our team brings deep experience in ...

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Agentrys Studio combines AI agents, engineering knowledge, agent-native tools, advanced models, and continuous learning to automate complex chip-design workflows. Our team brings deep experience in ...

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We're seeking a CAD Engineer to join our team and develop full-stack web applications that power ... Signoff is the critical final verification stage in chip design where designs are validated against ...

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Chip Design Engineer information

See salary details

$40.5K

$88.2K

$158.5K

How much do chip design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for chip design engineer in the United States is $88,150.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a chip design engineer?

A Chip Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing integrated circuits (ICs) used in electronic devices. They work with hardware description languages (HDLs) like Verilog or VHDL to create digital or analog circuit designs. Their role includes logic design, verification, simulation, and testing to ensure performance and power efficiency. They collaborate with teams across hardware, software, and manufacturing to bring chips from concept to production. Chip Design Engineers are essential in industries like consumer electronics, automotive, and telecommunications.

What are some typical projects or daily tasks for a chip design engineer?

As a Chip Design Engineer, your daily tasks often include designing and simulating integrated circuits, reviewing schematics, writing and verifying code in hardware description languages, and collaborating closely with layout engineers and verification teams. You may also participate in design reviews, troubleshoot potential issues, and optimize chip performance to meet specific requirements. Working with cross-functional teams, including software engineers and product managers, is common to ensure the chip integrates seamlessly with end products. This role provides opportunities to see your designs progress from concept to final manufacturing, offering valuable hands-on experience at each stage of development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a chip design engineer?

To thrive as a Chip Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital and analog circuit design, and experience with VLSI principles, usually backed by a relevant degree. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Cadence, Synopsys, and experience in HDL languages (such as Verilog or VHDL) is highly valued, as are certifications like Certified IC Designer. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills help set you apart. These competencies are critical for developing reliable, high-performance chips in a collaborative and deadline-driven environment.

How much do chip design engineers make?

Chip design engineers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $90,000 to $130,000, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior engineers with specialized skills in VLSI design or FPGA development can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000 annually.

What does a chip design engineer do?

A chip design engineer develops and designs integrated circuits and microchips used in electronic devices. They use electronic design automation (EDA) tools, create schematics, simulate circuit performance, and collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure the chips meet specifications and quality standards.

What is the salary of chip design engineer?

The average salary of a chip design engineer varies by experience and location but typically ranges from $80,000 to $150,000 annually. Senior engineers with specialized skills in VLSI design and FPGA development can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $180,000. Certifications and proficiency in tools like Cadence or Synopsys can also influence compensation.
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Infographic showing various Chip Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,150 per year, or $42.4 per hour.

Chip Design Engineer

TenX Semi

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$140 - $210/hr

Other

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

San Francisco Bay Area, CA · Hybrid · Full-time

We are looking for a Chip Design Engineer who works on strategic customer engagements, developing custom IP and optimizing designs for power, performance, and area. You will collaborate closely with our AI systems, providing the domain expertise that ensures AI-generated designs meet real-world requirements.

In this role, you will combine hands-on RTL design with exposure to cutting-edge AI technology. You will help shape how AI and human expertise work together in chip design. Your designs will go into production at the world's leading technology companies.

What You Will Do
  • Design RTL for Customer Projects: Implement RTL for strategic customer engagements. You will write clean, synthesizable, timing-aware Verilog/SystemVerilog.
  • Optimize for PPA: Analyze and optimize designs for power, performance, and area. Your optimizations will contribute to royalty-generating designs.
  • Support Synthesis and Timing: Work through synthesis and timing closure. You understand what makes RTL synthesizable and how to fix timing violations.
  • Improve AI-Generated Designs: Review and enhance AI-generated RTL for production quality. Your feedback will improve model accuracy.
  • Develop Reference Implementations: Create high-quality reference designs that become training data for our AI models.
  • Implement Protocol Blocks: Build protocol implementations (PCIe, DDR, AXI, etc.) for customer requirements.
What You Bring (Required)
  • RTL Design Experience: You have 5+ years of experience designing production RTL. You write clean, readable, synthesizable Verilog/SystemVerilog.
  • Micro-Architecture Understanding: You have solid understanding of pipeline design, FSMs, arbitration, and data flow. You can translate architecture specs into RTL.
  • Synthesis Awareness: You have experience with synthesis tools (Design Compiler, Genus). You understand what makes RTL timing-friendly.
  • Debug Skills: You can read waveforms, trace signal paths, and debug complex logic issues. You have experience with Verdi, SimVision, or similar tools.
  • PPA Intuition: You understand power-performance-area tradeoffs. You can make informed design decisions based on PPA goals.
  • Collaborative Mindset: You work well with verification engineers, architects, and AI engineers. You communicate clearly and give/receive feedback well.
Bonus Points (Preferred)
  • Experience at leading semiconductor companies (Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Marvell, MediaTek).
  • Protocol implementation experience (PCIe, DDR, AXI, AHB, APB, CHI).
  • Physical design awareness (floor planning, clock tree, routing congestion).
  • Background in accelerator, SoC, or high-performance computing design.
  • Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and interest in AI-assisted design.
  • MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science.
Why Join Us

You will be at the forefront of AI-assisted chip design—a fundamental transformation in how chips are built. Your designs will go into production at top tech companies. You'll learn cutting-edge AI while applying your chip design expertise, building skills that will define the future of the industry.

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