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Cpu Rtl Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Description As a CPU Microarchitect/RTL Engineer, you will participate in the following: • Micro ... design to target power, performance, area and timing goals • Verification - support the ...

RTL Design Engineer As an RTL Engineer at Etched, you will be critical in ensuring that our AI chips operate correctly and efficiently. You will develop and implement design verification strategies ...

Logic (RTL) Design Engineer Job Location: Santa Clara, CA Job Duration: 3 Months, Contract to Hire Job Summary: * The RTL Engineer performs detailed block design from system requirements and evolving ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

Description As a CPU Microarchitect/RTL Engineer, you will participate in the following: • Micro ... design to target power, performance, area and timing goals • Verification - support the ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

If you're passionate about taking on unsolved challenges, we have a great opportunity for a results-oriented and highly motivated RTL Design Engineer. This is an exciting position in the world class ...

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Cpu Rtl Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$40K

$87K

$156.4K

How much do cpu rtl design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for cpu rtl design engineer in California is $86,995.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,100.00 and $97,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Cpu Rtl Design Engineer vs Cpu Verification Engineer?

AspectCpu Rtl Design EngineerCpu Verification Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning and developing RTL code for CPU componentsVerifying and testing RTL designs for correctness
Skills & CertificationsHDL languages (Verilog/VHDL), FPGA/ASIC design experienceHDL, testbench development, simulation tools
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, hardware development labsVerification teams, simulation environments
Industry UsageSemiconductor companies, CPU design firmsASIC/FPGA verification, chip validation

While both roles require HDL knowledge and work within hardware design environments, Cpu Rtl Design Engineers focus on creating the RTL code for CPU components, whereas Cpu Verification Engineers concentrate on testing and validating those designs to ensure functionality and performance.

What are some common challenges faced by CPU RTL Design Engineers when collaborating with verification and architecture teams?

CPU RTL Design Engineers often work closely with both verification and architecture teams to ensure that the design meets functional and performance requirements. A common challenge is ensuring clear communication of design intent and handling feedback from verification regarding corner cases or bugs. Balancing architectural changes with design timelines and maintaining synchronization across multiple teams can be demanding. Successful engineers proactively document their work, participate in regular sync-ups, and are open to iterative improvements based on collaborative feedback.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a CPU RTL Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a CPU RTL Design Engineer, you need a strong background in digital logic design, computer architecture, and proficiency in hardware description languages like Verilog or VHDL, typically supported by a degree in electrical or computer engineering. Familiarity with industry-standard EDA tools such as Synopsys or Cadence, and experience with simulation, synthesis, and verification methodologies are essential. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for success in this role. These competencies enable the accurate implementation, debugging, and optimization of complex CPU designs, ensuring performance and reliability in final hardware products.

What are CPU RTL Design Engineers?

CPU RTL (Register Transfer Level) Design Engineers are specialized hardware engineers who design, implement, and verify the digital logic that forms the core of computer processors. They use hardware description languages like Verilog or VHDL to create and simulate the functional blocks of CPUs, ensuring correct operation and optimal performance. Their work involves close collaboration with architecture, verification, and physical design teams to bring processor designs from conception to silicon. They also debug and optimize designs to meet power, speed, and area goals.
What job categories do people searching Cpu Rtl Design Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Cpu Rtl Design Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Cpu Rtl Design Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Cpu Rtl Design Engineer job openings:
CPU Microarchitect/RTL Engineer

CPU Microarchitect/RTL Engineer

Apple

Santa Clara, CA

$126K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Posted 28 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 661 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, hard-working people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products! The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver groundbreaking Apple products!
Apple’s Silicon Engineering Group (SEG) designs high-performance, low power microprocessors that power our innovative products, including the iPhone, iPad, Watch, Vision Pro, and Mac. We are looking for an experienced engineer who can drive CPU multi-level cache subsystem architecture and RTL development for multi-processor systems.
Description
As a CPU Microarchitect/RTL Engineer, you will participate in the following:
• Micro-architecture development and specification - from early high-level architectural exploration, through micro-architectural research and arriving at a detailed specification
• RTL ownership - development, assessment and refinement of RTL design to target power, performance, area and timing goals
• Verification - support the verification team in test bench development, formal methods, and simulation/emulation for formal verification
• Performance exploration and correlation - explore high-performance strategies and work with the performance verification team to verify that the RTL design meets targeted performance
• Design delivery - work with multi-functional engineering team to implement and verify physical design on the aspects of timing, area, reliability, testability and power
Preferred Qualifications
Expertise in one or more of the following areas: instruction fetch and decode, branch prediction; instruction scheduling and register renaming, out-of-order execution; integer and floating point execution; load/store execution; cache and memory subsystems; machine-learning algorithms and mapping to hardware; or power and thermal management
Understanding of low power microarchitecture techniques
Understanding of high-performance techniques and trade-offs in a CPU microarchitecture
Experience in C or C++ programming
Experience using an interpretive language such as Perl or Python
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum BS
Experience with at least one of the following languages: Verilog or VHDL
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $126,800 and $190,900, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976