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Chip Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

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Chip Engineer information

What is a chip engineer?

Chip engineers, also known as semiconductor or integrated circuit (IC) engineers, design, develop, and test microchips that power electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, and automotive systems. They work with complex circuitry, ensuring that chips meet performance, size, and energy efficiency requirements. Chip engineers collaborate with other specialists in areas like software, hardware, and manufacturing to bring advanced semiconductor products from concept to production.

How much do chip engineers make in the US?

Chip engineers in the US typically earn a median annual salary of around $110,000, with entry-level positions starting at approximately $80,000 and experienced engineers earning over $150,000. Salaries vary based on experience, location, and specific skills such as VHDL or FPGA design.

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

To thrive as a Chip Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, semiconductor physics, and integrated circuit (IC) design, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with tools like CAD software (e.g., Cadence, Synopsys), HDL languages (such as Verilog or VHDL), and familiarity with industry standards or certifications are critical. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork make someone excel in this role. These skills and qualities are essential for designing reliable, high-performance chips that meet rigorous technical requirements and tight project deadlines.

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

AspectChip EngineerHardware Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, fabrication facilities, simulation softwareDesign labs, schematic tools, testing environments
Industry UsageSemiconductor companies, electronics firms, tech companiesElectronics manufacturers, consumer device companies, aerospace
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

Chip Engineers focus on designing and developing integrated circuits and chips, often working on the entire chip architecture. Hardware Design Engineers concentrate on creating detailed schematics and layouts for electronic hardware components, including circuit boards and systems. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds and work environments, Chip Engineers typically work more on the semiconductor level, whereas Hardware Design Engineers focus on the physical hardware implementation.

What are some typical challenges a chip engineer faces when working on new semiconductor designs?

Chip Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing power consumption, performance, and area (PPA) during the design process. Meeting aggressive timelines while ensuring design verification and manufacturability can also be demanding. Additionally, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams like software, hardware, and testing engineers is crucial for resolving integration issues and optimizing chip functionality. Staying updated with rapid advancements in fabrication technologies and EDA tools is essential for success in this fast-paced environment.
More about Chip Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Chip Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Chip Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Chip Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Chip Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Chip Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution.

Applied Research Engineer, Chip Design

Nvidia Corporation

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago


Nvidia rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 244 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.

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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