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Director Emulation Engineer Jobs in Rodeo, CA (NOW HIRING)

... integration, Emulation, Design Verification, Test and Validation, and FW/SW engineering ... this modeling Direct tape-out experience with one or more of the following blocks: RF front-end ...

... integration, Emulation, Design Verification, Test and Validation, and FW/SW engineering ... this modeling Direct tape-out experience with one or more of the following blocks: RF front-end ...

Develop constrained-random, directed, and system-level testbenches using SystemVerilog/UVM or ... Familiarity with performance modeling, formal verification, or emulation is a plus. * Experience ...

Director Emulation Engineer information

See Rodeo, CA salary details

$65.7K

$123.3K

$224.2K

How much do director emulation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for director emulation engineer in Rodeo, CA is $123,270.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,900.00 and $146,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 cities near Rodeo, CA are hiring for Director Emulation Engineer jobs?

Cities near Rodeo, CA with the most Director Emulation Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Emulation Engineer job openings in Rodeo, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,270 per year, or $59.3 per hour.

Software Engineer - FPGA-Accelerated RTL Simulation

SiFive, Inc.

Berkeley, CA • On-site

$179 - $219/hr

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

About SiFive As the pioneers who introduced RISC-V to the world, SiFive is transforming the future of compute by bringing the limitless potential of RISC-V to the highest performance and most data-intensive applications in the world. SiFive’s unrivaled compute platforms are continuing to enable leading technology companies around the world to innovate, optimize and deliver the most advanced solutions of tomorrow across every market segment of chip design, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, automotive, data center, mobile, and consumer. With SiFive, the future of RISC-V has no limits. At SiFive, we are always excited to connect with talented individuals, who are just as passionate about driving innovation and changing the world as we are. Our constant innovation and ongoing success is down to our amazing teams of incredibly talented people, who collaborate and support each other to come up with truly groundbreaking ideas and solutions. Solutions that will have a huge impact on people's lives; making the world a better place, one processor at a time. Are you ready? To learn more about SiFive’s phenomenal success and to see why we have won the GSA’s prestigious Most Respected Private Company Award (for the fourth time!), check out our website and Glassdoor pages.

Job Description: The Role

You will be responsible for the C++ application that constitutes the software-component of our custom hardware emulation framework (originally based on FireSim, https://fires.im). Join a small team (<5 engineers) working on a cross-cutting project that spans the whole stack. You will work closely with: FPGA RTL Designers: Components of our FPGA-hosted emulators are written in Chisel and optimized for Xilinx FPGAs. Compiler Developers: We compile ASIC RTL down to deterministic, FPGA-friendly emulation RTL using a purpose-built compiler based on MLIR & CIRCT. RISC-V Software & HW Developers: Build debug tools to help users co-design and debug novel RISC-V hardware and software. Your experience should be rooted in high-performance, multithreaded C++ application development. Familiarity with compiler development (ideally LLVM or MLIR) or FPGA RTL design is highly desired, but not required. You will help build the next generation of hardware emulation capacity for our RISC-V core IP—making it fast for software development, productive to debug, and cost-effective for deployment to every engineer in the company.

Requirements
  • BS/MS/PhD in CS, CE, or EE.
  • 7+ years experience building complete C++ applications, using modern C++ language features and best practices (C++20 and newer).
  • Strong understanding of C++ concurrency features and demonstrated experience building multithreaded applications.
  • Self-directed, with strong oral and written communication skills.
Pay & Benefits

Consistent with SiFive values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. We have a market-based pay structure which varies by location. Please note that the base pay range is a guideline, and our compensation range reflects the cost of labor in the U.S. geographic market based on the location of the role. Pay within these ranges varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and relevant work experience. For candidates who receive and offer, the starting salary will vary based on various factors including, but not limited to, such qualifications as, skill level, competencies, and work location. The range provided may represent a candidate range and may not reflect the full range for an individual tenured employee.

  • Base Pay Range $178,848.00-$218,592.00
  • In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for variable/ incentive compensation and/ or equity.
  • In addition, this role is eligible for a comprehensive, competitive benefits package which may include healthcare and retirement plans, paid time off, and more!
Additional Information

This position requires a successful background and reference checks and satisfactory proof of your right to work in United States of America. Any offer of employment for this position is also contingent on the Company verifying that you are a authorized for access to export-controlled technology under applicable export control laws or, if you are not already authorized, our ability to successfully obtain any necessary export license(s) or other approvals. SiFive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. As an E-Verify employer, we use this system to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires in accordance with federal law. All applicants will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, upon hire. We do not use E-Verify to pre-screen job candidates and will comply with all E-Verify regulations. California residents: please see our job candidate notice for more information on how we handle your personal information and your privacy rights: Privacy Policy Document. Championed by leaders who chose to make a real difference, SiFive led the RISC-V revolution—creating a tremendous wave with the strength to remove economic hurdles and create opportunities for all. Now that we’ve made history, you have the opportunity to write the future. If you love to be challenged, you can join the best of the best and get rewarded for doing something that truly matters.

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