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Director Emulation Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Marvell

Emulation Director

Irvine, CA · On-site

Define DV, emulation and post silicon validation scope. Define execution timelines working closely ... Hire, build and retain high performance engineering team. Address continuous training and ...

Marvell

Emulation Director

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

Define DV, emulation and post silicon validation scope. Define execution timelines working closely ... Hire, build and retain high performance engineering team. Address continuous training and ...

SambaNova

Director of ASIC Design Verification

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $194K/yr

... closure, and emulation and FPGA prototyping. When first silicon comes back, the same engineers ... About the role SambaNova Systems is looking for a Director of ASIC Design Verification to own end ...

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Director Emulation Engineer information

What does a director emulation engineer do?

A Director Emulation Engineer oversees the development and implementation of hardware emulation systems used to test and validate the functionality of semiconductor designs before they are manufactured. This role involves managing a team of engineers, setting technical direction, and ensuring that emulation platforms meet project and company requirements. Responsibilities also include collaborating with design, verification, and software teams to optimize workflows and improve overall productivity. The Director Emulation Engineer plays a critical role in reducing time-to-market and ensuring design quality in the semiconductor industry.

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

To excel as a Director Emulation Engineer, you need deep expertise in hardware verification, emulation methodologies, and a solid background in electrical or computer engineering, often with an advanced degree. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Cadence Palladium, Synopsys ZeBu, or Mentor Veloce, as well as experience with scripting languages and EDA workflows, is essential. Leadership, strategic thinking, and effective communication distinguish top performers by enabling them to guide teams and coordinate complex projects. These skills ensure efficient verification cycles, high-quality silicon development, and successful cross-functional collaboration in fast-paced semiconductor environments.

What are some common challenges faced by a director emulation engineer when leading emulation projects?

A Director Emulation Engineer often navigates challenges such as aligning cross-functional teams, managing resource allocation, and ensuring timely delivery of complex emulation solutions. Balancing the technical intricacies of hardware and software integration while meeting aggressive project timelines is frequently required. Additionally, keeping up with evolving emulation technologies and fostering team expertise are critical to maintaining project success and supporting innovation.

What is the difference between Director Emulation Engineer vs Senior Emulation Engineer?

AspectDirector Emulation EngineerSenior Emulation Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science, possibly with leadership experienceBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science, with extensive emulation experience
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, collaborates with multiple departmentsPerforms hands-on emulation design, testing, and optimization
Industry UsageUsed in semiconductor, electronics, and chip design companiesCommonly found in semiconductor and hardware development firms

The main difference is that a Director Emulation Engineer oversees teams and projects, focusing on strategic leadership, while a Senior Emulation Engineer primarily handles technical tasks and hands-on emulation work. Both roles require strong technical skills, but the director position emphasizes management and coordination.

What are the most commonly searched types of Emulation Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Emulation Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Director Emulation Engineer jobs in California?

For Director Emulation Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Director Emulation Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Emulation Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Director Emulation Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Director Emulation Engineer job openings:

Director Emulation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Director Emulation Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

AE Director Emulation and Prototyping

Cadence Design Systems Inc.

San Jose, CA

$157K - $292K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago

Cadence Design Systems rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

33rd of 247 rated software companies

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

At Cadence, we hire and develop innovators and leaders who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
We offer amazing opportunities to grow, no matter where you are in your career. The ideal candidate will be energetic, innovative and enthusiastic about how to help customers solve their toughest verification problems using Cadence technology. Join our elite application engineering team for verification to work closely with the best AEs, PEs and R&D in EDA at a company listed in Fortune magazine and Great Place to Work as one of the World's Best Workplaces year after year!
As an integral member of the North America Verification Field Applications Engineering (AE) Team, you will work directly with industry leading semiconductor and system companies to deploy Cadence's market leading emulation and FPGA prototyping platforms, Palladium and Protium. In this customer facing role you will provide the front line technical support in the pre and post-sales process and will work with account teams to come up with innovative solutions to address our customers' most challenging problems in emulation and prototyping. You will own customer success!
In this role, you will lead and drive a team of application engineers for customer specific emulation and prototyping requirements, including advanced acceleration component development, methodology support, and operation and maintenance of Cadence's emulation and prototyping tools and services. You will lead a team to support technical evaluations and benchmark development for Cadence's market leading tools such as Palladium emulation platform and Protium prototyping platforms. You will be responsible for interaction with customer management and R&D management .
At Cadence, customers are at the heart of everything we do. Talented engineers like you are what enable us to materialize this passion into results. By working directly with Cadence R&D and driving customer engagements, you will enhance your in-depth knowledge in verification tools, unlock unique expertise in verification methodologies, and level up your communication, customer, and sales skills. No matter where you are in your career, whether your next career step is to stay on the technical track, move up in management, or explore sales/marketing career opportunities, the skills and expertise you gain as an Application Engineer here at Cadence will put you miles ahead in your career advancement.

MinimumExperience

MSdegreeinElectricalEngineering/ComputerScienceorrelatedfield

Atleast15+yearsofASICdesign,verification&validationexperience

Theidealcandidatewill:

HaveaproventrackwithdeploymentofAdvancedVerificationSolutions

Havedeeptechnicalknowledgeinafewof;Simulation(AdvancedTestbench),

Emulation(TBA&ICE)&FPGAPrototyping

IntimateknowledgeoftheSOCArchitectures

ChampionthecustomerneedsandworkwithR&D&marketingtodevelop

competitiveandcreativetechnicalsolutionstowincampaigns

Understandthecompetitivelandscapeandbeakeycontributortoproduct

roadmapenablingdifferentiatednextgenerationproducts

Possessexcellentcommunication,presentationandinterpersonalskills

The annual salary range for California is $157,500 to $292,500. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.

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