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Entry Level Rtl Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ayar Labs

Engineer, ASIC Design Verification

San Jose, CA · On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

We are seeking an Entry-Level Digital Verification Engineer to join our hardware engineering team ... Support verification of RTL designs for ASIC, FPGA, or SoC projects. * Document verification ...

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Entry Level Rtl Engineer information

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$30K

$69.4K

$118K

How much do entry level rtl engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level rtl engineer in the United States is $69,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are entry level RTL engineers?

Entry level RTL (Register Transfer Level) engineers are professionals who specialize in designing and implementing digital circuits at the RTL abstraction level, typically using hardware description languages like Verilog or VHDL. They work as part of hardware design teams, often in the semiconductor or electronics industry, to translate system specifications into functional hardware blocks. As entry-level employees, they usually assist with coding, simulation, synthesis, and debugging under the guidance of senior engineers. This role is ideal for recent graduates in electrical or computer engineering who are interested in digital design and hardware development.

What is the difference between Entry Level RTL Engineer vs Digital Design Engineer?

AspectEntry Level RTL EngineerDigital Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering; knowledge of HDL (VHDL/Verilog)Bachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering; expertise in HDL and digital circuit design
Work EnvironmentDesign teams in tech companies, semiconductor firms, or electronics manufacturersSimilar environments, often overlapping with RTL roles in chip design and FPGA development
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in semiconductor, electronics, and tech industries for hardware developmentCommon in integrated circuit design, FPGA development, and hardware startups

Entry Level RTL Engineers and Digital Design Engineers often share similar educational backgrounds and work environments. The main difference lies in focus: RTL Engineers primarily work on writing and verifying register transfer level code, while Digital Design Engineers may handle broader digital circuit design tasks. Both roles are essential in hardware development and frequently overlap in industry applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level RTL Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level RTL Engineer, you need a solid understanding of digital logic design, computer architecture, and proficiency in hardware description languages like Verilog or VHDL, often supported by a degree in electrical or computer engineering. Familiarity with simulation tools (such as ModelSim or Synopsys VCS), version control systems, and industry-standard EDA tools is typically required. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help you excel in collaborative, deadline-driven environments. These competencies ensure accurate hardware design, efficient workflow, and seamless integration within engineering teams.

How does an Entry Level RTL Engineer typically collaborate with verification and design teams during a project?

As an Entry Level RTL Engineer, you’ll frequently work alongside both verification and design teams throughout the development cycle. You’ll be responsible for writing and refining RTL code, addressing feedback from verification engineers who test your code against functional specifications. Regular meetings and code reviews are common, providing opportunities to learn best practices and industry standards. Open communication and a willingness to ask questions are key, as you’ll often need to clarify requirements or debug issues collaboratively.
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Infographic showing various Entry Level Rtl Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.
Engineer, ASIC Design Verification

Engineer, ASIC Design Verification

Ayar Labs

San Jose, CA • On-site

$130K - $150K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Engineer, ASIC Design Verification
Location: San Jose (on-site)
Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models.
Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world's leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs' co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures.
We are seeking an Entry-Level Digital Verification Engineer to join our hardware engineering team. In this role, you will help verify digital designs used in semiconductor, FPGA, ASIC, or SoC products. You will work closely with design engineers, verification engineers, and system architects to ensure that digital circuits meet functional, performance, and quality requirements before production.
This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or early-career engineer interested in digital logic, computer architecture, hardware verification, and semiconductor development.
Key Responsibilities
  • Develop and execute verification test plans for digital blocks, subsystems, or SoC-level designs.
  • Create and maintain testbenches using SystemVerilog, UVM, Verilog, or related verification methodologies.
  • Write directed and constrained-random tests to validate design functionality.
  • Debug simulation failures and work with design engineers to identify root causes.
  • Develop functional coverage models and track verification progress.
  • Run regressions and analyze simulation results.
  • Support verification of RTL designs for ASIC, FPGA, or SoC projects.
  • Document verification results, issues, and test procedures.
  • Participate in design and verification reviews.
  • Learn and apply industry-standard verification tools and methodologies.

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • Basic understanding of digital logic design concepts, including finite state machines, pipelines, registers, memory, and timing.
  • Familiarity with Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL.
  • Exposure to simulation and debugging tools.
  • Basic programming or scripting experience in Python, Perl, Tcl, C/C++, or similar languages.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work in a collaborative engineering environment.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
  • Academic or internship experience with ASIC, FPGA, or SoC verification.
  • Familiarity with UVM or object-oriented programming concepts.
  • Experience using EDA tools from Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens EDA, or similar vendors.
  • Understanding of computer architecture, bus protocols, or embedded systems.
  • Knowledge of coverage-driven verification.
  • Experience with version control tools such as Git.
  • Familiarity with Linux-based development environments.
  • Skills and Competencies
  • Strong attention to detail.Curiosity and willingness to learn complex technical concepts.
  • Ability to debug technical issues methodically.
  • Comfortable reading RTL code and technical specifications.
  • Ability to manage tasks and communicate progress clearly.
  • Interest in semiconductor design, hardware systems, and verification methodology.

What You Will Gain
  • Hands-on experience with digital verification methodologies.
  • Exposure to ASIC, FPGA, or SoC development flows.
  • Mentorship from experienced design and verification engineers.
  • Opportunity to work on real-world hardware products.
  • Career growth path toward verification engineering, design engineering, SoC architecture, or validation engineering roles.

Salary Range: $130,000 - $150,000
NOTE TO RECRUITERS:
Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don't send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers.
Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply.

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