ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Chip Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

OMNIVISION

SoC Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

Perform chip bring-up, validation and debugging. Design, integrate and validate data pipeline according to PRD/design specification and system architecture of SoC products, following ASIC design flow ...

OMNIVISION

SoC Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$156K - $160K/yr

Perform chip bring-up, validation and debugging. Design, integrate and validate data pipeline according to PRD/design specification and system architecture of SoC products, following ASIC design flow ...

Broadcom

IC Package Design / Development

San Jose, CA

$108K - $192K/yr

This role partners closely with chip design, system design, SI/PI, thermal, and manufacturing teams to define and deliver industry-leading package solutions. The ideal candidate has deep technical ...

Broadcom

IC Package Design / Development

Irvine, CA

$108K - $192K/yr

This role partners closely with chip design, system design, SI/PI, thermal, and manufacturing teams to define and deliver industry-leading package solutions. The ideal candidate has deep technical ...

DensityAI

Physical Design Timing Engineer

Mountain View, CA

$160K - $165K/yr

Work with chip-design and software teams driving DensityAI's AI accelerator program from first silicon through scale-out. What you'll do * Own Full chip and Block timing methodologies and execution ...

Apple

CPU Design Verification Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$159K - $195K/yr

In this highly visible role, you will be at the center of a chip design effort collaborating with all disciplines, with a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers ...

Google

Chip CAD DevOps Engineer, Google Cloud

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$62 - $84.75/hr

As a Chip CAD Engineer, you will be working with a highly creative team, innovating new ways to develop hardware, improve upon industry standards, and with the potential to evolve a new paradigm in ...

Apple

CPU Design Verification Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$159K - $195K/yr

In this highly visible role, you will be at the center of a chip design effort collaborating with all disciplines, with a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsChip Design JobsChip Design Jobs in California

Chip Design information

See California salary details

$41.5K

$113K

$198.9K

How much do chip design jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for chip design in California is $112,992.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,400.00 and $142,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Chip Design position, and why are they important?

To excel in Chip Design, a strong background in electrical engineering, digital and analog circuit design, and semiconductor physics is typically required, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with electronic design automation (EDA) tools like Cadence, Synopsys, and Mentor Graphics, as well as proficiency in hardware description languages (HDLs) such as Verilog or VHDL, are standard prerequisites. Outstanding problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate closely with cross-functional teams set candidates apart. These competencies are essential for designing efficient, reliable integrated circuits and meeting the evolving needs of the semiconductor industry.

What are the typical career progression opportunities in a Chip Design role?

Chip Design offers a clear pathway for career growth, starting from entry-level positions such as Design Engineer or Verification Engineer and progressing to roles like Lead Designer, Project Manager, or Technical Architect. As you gain experience and demonstrate expertise, opportunities often open up in specialized areas such as physical design, timing analysis, or system architecture. Many professionals also advance to leadership or managerial positions, overseeing teams or entire design projects. Additionally, working in such a fast-evolving field keeps you engaged with the latest technologies and can provide options to transition into adjacent areas like product management or application engineering.

Is chip design a good career?

Chip design is a specialized field within electronics engineering focused on creating integrated circuits and microchips. It offers high demand, competitive salaries, and opportunities to work with advanced technology, but requires strong skills in electronics, programming, and often a relevant degree or certification. Career growth depends on industry trends and individual expertise in areas like VLSI design and CAD tools.

How do you become a chip designer?

To become a chip designer, typically a candidate needs a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field, along with strong skills in digital logic, circuit design, and hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog. Gaining experience through internships, developing proficiency with CAD tools, and staying updated on industry standards are also important steps in pursuing a career in chip design.

What is a Chip Design job?

A Chip Design job involves creating and developing semiconductor circuits used in electronic devices. Engineers in this field work on designing, verifying, and testing integrated circuits (ICs) to ensure performance, power efficiency, and reliability. They use specialized software tools for designing hardware and optimizing functionality. Chip designers collaborate with cross-functional teams to bring new processors, memory chips, or custom ASICs from concept to production. This role is crucial in industries like computing, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.

How much do chip designers make?

Chip designers, also known as integrated circuit designers, typically earn between $80,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in hardware description languages and CAD tools can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $200,000.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior chip design engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in hardware description languages, and expertise in complex integrated circuit development can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially in high-cost living areas or within leading technology companies. Such roles often require advanced degrees, certifications, and a strong track record of successful project delivery.
What are the most commonly searched types of Chip Design jobs in California? The most popular types of Chip Design jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Chip Design jobs in California? For Chip Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Chip Design jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Chip Design jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Chip Design jobs? Cities in California with the most Chip Design job openings:
Chip Design jobs near you
SoC Design Engineer

SoC Design Engineer

OMNIVISION

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Job Title: SoC Design Engineer
 
Job Duties:  
 
Be responsible for digital design of ASIC cores within image sensor SoC products, including IP design, analysis, integration, and validation. Collaborate with physical design teams on floor-planning, timing closure, and DFT implementation. Conduct timing control logic design and static timing analysis (STA) for sensor interfaces and mixed-signal integration. Perform chip bring-up, validation and debugging. Design, integrate and validate data pipeline according to PRD/design specification and system architecture of SoC products, following ASIC design flow: coding, simulation, synthesis, static timing analysis, formality verification, DFT, using Simvision, EDA tools such as Prime Time, cadence Virtuoso, Design Compiler, Integrator, and Verilog and System Verilog programming languages etc. Conduct design verification and modeling using SVA, Python, Perl, C++/C, and HLS. Work with digital and analog engineers for system design, integration and validation. Work with algorithm engineers for module level design, including hardware C model implementation, micro architecture design, RTL design and hardware/software co-simulation. Work with algorithm and application engineers for project-based microarchitecture improvements. Conduct silicon validation, debugging and tuning.
 
Requirements:
 
Master’s degree or foreign equivalent degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
 
Required skills and/or academic training in the following: 
 
  • Arithmetic circuit design related to general datapath circuits, ML and AI circuits.
  • Arithmetic circuit design, timing analysis; synchronous and asynchronous FSMs; power, test, and debug.
  • Design and design debug with System Verilog; Logic design and analysis.  
  • Processing Subsystem, including superscalar out-of-order cores, multicore and heterogeneous processors, and purpose-specific accelerators.  
  • Design tools, such as microarchitecture simulators, RTL synthesis tools, and modeling for area, power, and thermal. 
  • FPGA platforms to compute acceleration.  
  • FPGAs technology, architecture and applications.  
  • Register-Transfer Level (RTL) hardware design.  
  • Planning and specification, writing Verilog models, and designing custom circuits and synthesized standard cell blocks.  
  • Using industrial CAD tools and flows for digital, analog/RF, or mixed-signal chip design.  
  • Full-chip integration and verification for tapeout.  
 
Annual base salary for this role in California, US is expected to be between $156,853 - $160,000. Actual pay will be determined on a number of factors such as relevant skills and experience, and the pay of employees in the similar role.