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Chip Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

ChipAgents

Design and Verification Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150 - $350/hr

Founded by leading experts in AI and chip design, we work with top-20 semiconductor companies, major cloud providers, and next-generation hardware startups. Our AI-powered platform accelerates RTL ...

ChipAgents

Design and Verification Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$350K/yr

Founded by leading experts in AI and chip design, we work with top-20 semiconductor companies, major cloud providers, and next-generation hardware startups. Our AI-powered platform accelerates RTL ...

Cerebras

Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$230 - $280/hr

Strong knowledge of block level and full-chip physical verification methodology. * Expert at optimizing for the best power/performance and area. * Experience with the complete physical design flow.

New

OMNIVISION

SoC Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$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 ...

OMNIVISION

SoC Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$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 ...

OMNIVISION

SoC Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

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 ...

Socket.dev

PMIC Engineering Program Manager

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Proven experience in SOC/VLSI Chip Design, ASIC Chip Design, Power Management Chip design or Technology process development. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS * Prior experience in Technical Program or ...

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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 Aug 8, 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.

How to get a job in chip design?

To get a job in chip design, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field, along with strong skills in digital and analog circuit design, hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog, and familiarity with CAD tools. Gaining experience through internships, projects, or research can improve prospects, and advanced roles may require a master's or Ph.D. in a relevant area. Certifications or specialized training in semiconductor design can also be beneficial.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in chip design?

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 chip design?

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 for innovation, especially for those skilled in hardware description languages and electronic design automation tools. The career typically requires a strong technical background and continuous learning to keep up with technological advancements.

What is a chip design?

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, location, and industry. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in hardware description languages and CAD tools can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $200,000 with experience and advanced certifications.
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
Infographic showing various Chip Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $112,992 per year, or $54.3 per hour.

Design and Verification Engineer

ChipAgents

San Jose, CA • On-site

$150 - $350/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 25 days ago

Job description

About ChipAgents

ChipAgents is reinventing semiconductor design and verification through agentic AI workflows. Founded by leading experts in AI and chip design, we work with top-20 semiconductor companies, major cloud providers, and next-generation hardware startups. Our AI-powered platform accelerates RTL design, verification, and simulation, enabling engineers to achieve unprecedented productivity and correctness.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly capable Design and Verification Engineer to join our core product and research team. In this role, you will work side‑by‑side with our AI engineering and research groups to build cutting‑edge agentic AI systems for EDA. Your deep domain expertise in RTL design and functional verification will shape how AI systems reason about complex hardware workflows—from architecture specification through testbench validation. You will play a central role in teaching our AI how engineers think and work, ensuring our solutions integrate naturally into real‑world design environments.

Key Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with AI engineers to model and codify chip design and verification workflows.
  • Design, implement, and debug RTL designs and SystemVerilog/UVM testbenches used in training and validating AI agents.
  • Provide deep domain expertise to help AI agents interpret specifications, generate RTL code, and understand verification coverage.
  • Build reusable examples, design patterns, and edge cases to train and evaluate generative and agentic AI models.
  • Support benchmarking and evaluation of AI‑assisted design and verification productivity across realistic chip development tasks.
  • Work closely with customers, product, and research teams to translate engineering pain points into automated AI workflows.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
  • Experience in RTL design, functional verification, and/or architecture‑level modeling.
  • Proficiency with Verilog/SystemVerilog, UVM, and simulation tools (e.g., Synopsys VCS, Cadence Xcelium, Siemens Questa).
  • Experience designing and verifying complex subsystems or SoCs, preferably in production or research tapeouts.
  • Familiarity with lint, CDC, formal, coverage analysis, and synthesis flows.
  • Interest or experience in AI/ML, especially AI‑assisted engineering tools, is a major plus.
  • Strong collaboration skills and a passion for enabling the next generation of EDA workflows.
Why Join Us
  • Work at the frontier of AI and semiconductor design.
  • Collaborate with a world‑class team spanning AI, systems, and EDA.
  • Shape a foundational shift in how chips are built.
What we offer
  • $150K/yr – $350K/yr + Offers Equity. We are open to discuss above‑scale compensation with exceptional candidates on a case‑by‑case basis.
  • Unlimited PTO and full benefits (medical, vision, dental, 401k).
  • Two engineering‑centric offices with free parking, private gym, and free lunch, drinks and snacks.
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