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Entry Level Vlsi Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Entry Level Vlsi Engineer information

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$40.5K

$86.4K

$142.5K

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

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level vlsi engineer in the United States is $86,381.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $65,000.00 and $103,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectEntry Level Vlsi EngineerDigital Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering; knowledge of VLSI design toolsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering; proficiency in digital logic design
Work EnvironmentSemiconductor companies, chip design firms, R&D labsElectronics companies, chip design firms, tech industry
Industry UsageDesigning integrated circuits, chip verificationDesigning digital systems, FPGA/ASIC development

Both roles require a background in electrical or computer engineering and involve digital design concepts. An Entry Level Vlsi Engineer focuses on VLSI chip design and verification, while a Digital Design Engineer concentrates on digital logic and system design. The roles often overlap but differ in scope and specific tools used.

What are the typical responsibilities and learning opportunities for an Entry Level VLSI Engineer during their first year?

As an Entry Level VLSI Engineer, you can expect to work on tasks such as assisting in the design and verification of integrated circuits, running simulations, and performing debugging under the guidance of senior engineers. You'll also participate in design reviews and collaborate closely with digital and analog design teams. The first year is a great time to deepen your understanding of industry-standard tools (like Cadence or Synopsys) and design flows, while gaining exposure to the end-to-end chip development process. Many companies offer mentorship programs and encourage continuous learning through technical workshops, which help accelerate your professional growth.

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

To thrive as an Entry Level VLSI Engineer, you need a solid understanding of digital and analog circuit design, semiconductor fundamentals, and a degree in electronics or electrical engineering. Familiarity with EDA tools like Cadence, Synopsys, and Mentor Graphics, as well as knowledge of HDL languages such as Verilog or VHDL, is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork help you stand out in collaborative, fast-paced project environments. These competencies are crucial for delivering reliable chip designs and meeting project deadlines in the highly technical VLSI industry.

What are entry level VLSI engineers?

Entry level VLSI (Very-Large-Scale Integration) engineers are professionals who have recently started their careers in designing and developing integrated circuits and semiconductor devices. They typically assist in tasks such as circuit design, verification, testing, and simulation under the supervision of senior engineers. These engineers use hardware description languages like Verilog or VHDL and work with tools for physical design, layout, and validation. Entry level VLSI engineers are often recent graduates with a background in electronics or electrical engineering and are eager to gain hands-on experience in the semiconductor industry.
More about Entry Level Vlsi Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Vlsi Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Vlsi Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Vlsi Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Vlsi Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Vlsi Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 95% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,381 per year, or $41.5 per hour.

ASIC Design Verification Engineer

ForwardEdge ASIC LLC

Saint Paul, MN

$115K - $135K/yr

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Position Description: At ForwardEdge ASIC we specialize in best-in-class ASIC technology, 100% domestically traceable microelectronic solutions designed for performance in commercial, aerospace, defense, and security sectors. FEASIC operates a full-scale ASIC design shop with cross-disciplinary fluency between digital logic, analog/mixed-signal design, and physical layout, and sits at the intersection of advanced ASIC, FPGA, and microelectronics design. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, we combine the agility of a startup with the stability and scale of a Fortune 100 leader. We operate in a nimble, fast-paced environment of 80+ highly experienced and specialized engineers with over 25 years of ASIC/FPGA experience and more than 300 patents. We are looking for an entry-level Design Verification Engineer to join our growing verification team. This role is ideal for a recent graduate or early-career engineer who is interested in digital design verification, SystemVerilog, UVM, simulation, debugging, and advanced ASIC/SoC development.At ForwardEdge ASIC, you will work alongside experienced engineers, learn industry-standard verification methodologies, and contribute to the development of high-quality custom silicon solutions.Position SummaryAs a Design Verification Engineer, you will support the verification of ASIC, SoC, IP, subsystem, and FPGA designs. You will help develop testbenches, create tests, run simulations, debug failures, and contribute to coverage-driven verification under the guidance of senior engineers.This is a hands-on technical role with strong mentorship and learning opportunities. You will gain experience with modern verification methodologies, EDA tools, scripting, simulation debug, and the process of taking complex designs from specification through verification closure.Key Responsibilities• Support verification activities for ASIC, SoC, IP, subsystem, and FPGA designs.• Develop and maintain verification components using SystemVerilog and, where applicable, UVM.• Create and run directed and constrained-random tests to verify design functionality.• Assist in developing testbench components such as drivers, monitors, scoreboards, checkers, sequences, and coverage models.• Analyze design specifications and work with senior engineers to understand verification requirements.• Run simulations and regressions using industry-standard EDA tools.• Debug test failures using simulation logs, waveforms, assertions, and guidance from senior engineers.• Help collect and analyze functional coverage, code coverage, and regression results.• Document verification work, test results, debug findings, and issue resolutions.• Collaborate with design, verification, firmware, FPGA, and project teams to resolve issues.• Learn and apply best practices in verification methodology, automation, scripting, and reusable testbench development.• Participate in design reviews, verification reviews, and technical discussions.Qualifications• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.• Academic, internship, co-op, research, or project experience related to digital logic design, verification, computer architecture, embedded systems, or FPGA development.• Basic understanding of digital logic, RTL design concepts, and hardware description languages.• Exposure to SystemVerilog, Verilog, VHDL, or another hardware description/verification language.• Familiarity with simulation, debugging, test development, or verification concepts.• Basic scripting or programming experience using languages such as Python, Perl, Tcl, shell scripting, C, or C++.• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.• Willingness to learn modern ASIC verification methodologies, including UVM, constrained-random verification, assertions, and coverage-driven verification.• Ability to read technical documentation, specifications, and design descriptions.• Good written and verbal communication skills.• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative engineering environment.Preferred Qualifications• Internship, co-op, academic, or project experience with ASIC, FPGA, SoC, or digital design verification.• Coursework or project experience with SystemVerilog, Verilog, digital design, computer architecture, embedded systems, or VLSI design.• Exposure to UVM or object-oriented programming concepts.• Experience writing testbenches for RTL modules.• Familiarity with waveform debugging tools and simulation flows.• Exposure to industry-standard EDA tools for simulation, debug, or coverage analysis.• Experience with FPGA development boards, embedded processors, or hardware/software integration.• Familiarity with protocols or interfaces such as AMBA, AXI, APB, AHB, PCIe, Ethernet, DDR, USB, MIPI, SPI, I2C, or UART.• Exposure to assertions, functional coverage, code coverage, or regression automation.• Experience using version control systems such as Git.• Interest in ASIC design services, custom silicon development, or customer-focused engineering environments.Why Join ForwardEdge ASIC?At ForwardEdge ASIC, you will have the opportunity to begin your career working on advanced ASIC and FPGA programs with an experienced engineering team. You will receive mentorship from senior verification engineers, gain hands-on exposure to industry-standard tools and methodologies, and contribute to high-quality custom silicon solutions for leading-edge applications.What We Offer• Work-Life Balance: Flexible 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off• Competitive Comp & Benefits: Healthcare and medical coverage options, 401(k) retirement benefits with company contribution, generous holidays and PTO• Incentives: Eligibility for short-term and long-term incentive programsJoin ForwardEdge ASIC and be part of a team that thrives on innovation and excellence in ASIC design. Together, we build the technology that enables a safer, more resilient world. $115,000.00 - $135,000.00 Annually