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Junior Ic Layout Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Senior Electrical Systems Engineer

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$104K - $136K/yr

Select components, create schematics, support PCB layout, and oversee prototype builds. * Define ... Mentor junior members of the team and help establish engineering best practices. * Communicate cost ...

Junior Ic Layout information

What is a junior IC layout?

Junior IC (Integrated Circuit) Layout Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in designing the physical layout of integrated circuits using specialized CAD tools. They work closely with senior engineers to convert circuit schematics into actual silicon layouts, ensuring that the designs meet performance, area, and power requirements. Their responsibilities typically include layout drawing, verification, and assisting in design rule checks under supervision. Junior IC Layout Engineers play a crucial role in the development of microchips used in electronics. This position is ideal for those with a background in electrical engineering or microelectronics and a keen attention to detail.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior IC layout engineer?

To thrive as a Junior IC Layout Engineer, you need a solid understanding of semiconductor physics, circuit design basics, and relevant engineering degrees or coursework. Proficiency in CAD layout tools such as Cadence Virtuoso, as well as familiarity with design rule checks (DRC) and LVS tools, is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with design teams and ensuring design accuracy. These competencies are vital for producing reliable, manufacturable integrated circuit layouts that meet performance and quality standards.

What are some typical challenges junior IC layout engineers face when transitioning from academic projects to professional environments?

Junior IC layout engineers often find that transitioning from academic assignments to industry projects involves adapting to stricter design rules, tighter deadlines, and more complex verification processes. In professional environments, they must collaborate closely with circuit designers and verification engineers, ensuring that layouts meet both functional and manufacturability requirements. Additionally, learning to use advanced EDA tools efficiently and understanding company-specific workflow standards are common hurdles. Support from senior team members and proactive communication can help overcome these challenges and accelerate skill development.

What is the difference between Junior Ic Layout vs Senior Ic Layout?

AspectJunior Ic LayoutSenior Ic Layout
ExperienceEntry-level, 0-2 yearsAdvanced, 3+ years
ResponsibilitiesAssisting in layout design, following guidelinesLeading layout projects, optimizing designs
SkillsBasic CAD tools, fundamental IC design knowledgeExpertise in CAD, design optimization, mentorship
CertificationsRelevant coursework or certificationsAdvanced certifications preferred

The main difference between Junior Ic Layout and Senior Ic Layout lies in experience, responsibilities, and skill level. Junior roles focus on assisting and learning, while senior roles involve leading projects and providing expertise. Both positions are essential in the IC design industry, with senior roles requiring more experience and advanced skills.

What are popular job titles related to Junior Ic Layout jobs in Iowa?

For Junior Ic Layout jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Junior Ic Layout jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Junior Ic Layout job openings:

Senior Electrical Systems Engineer

InnerPlant

Des Moines, IA • On-site

$104K - $136K/yr

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

About Us

InnerPlant is on a mission to transform farming as never before imagined:  We give crops a voice by turning plants into living sensors that signal the onset of stress, enabling farmers to increase yields and reduce costs by optimizing inputs.

We're seeking a Senior Electrical Systems Engineer to lead the design, integration, and deployment of electrical systems that power our sensing platforms and field technologies of our commercial product, CropVoice.  The CropVoice platform translates signals from our living sensors to pinpoint stress well before visible symptoms, giving farmers and agronomists critical and timely insights and removing the guesswork behind key in-season decisions.

Your Role

As a Senior Electrical Systems Engineer, you'll play a critical role in developing and producing the hardware and systems that detect the optical signals from our living sensors.  You will manage hardware, embedded systems, optics, and data acquisition to develop reliable products that operate in demanding agricultural environments.  To achieve success as a Senior Electrical Engineer, you will:

  • Lead electrical system architecture for next-generation sensing and imaging platforms.
  • Design analog and digital electronic circuits for embedded hardware and sensor interfaces.
  • Develop robust power distribution, battery management, and power optimization solutions for field-deployed systems.
  • Select components, create schematics, support PCB layout, and oversee prototype builds.
  • Define system-level requirements, interface specifications, and verification plans.
  • Perform hardware validation, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis.
  • Support environmental, EMC, reliability, and field testing to ensure dependable operation under real-world agricultural conditions.
  • Manage engineering documentation including design reviews, BOMs, test reports, and manufacturing documentation.
  • Partner with contract manufacturers and suppliers to transition designs into production.
What Makes You Stand Out

The successful Senior Electrical Engineer will be an experienced engineer who enjoys building complex systems from concept through production and thrives in a fast-moving startup environment.  In particular, you will:

  • Be forward-thinking with respect to solutions that are scalable and cost-effective for near and long-term commercial objectives, balancing performance, reliability, ease of manufacture, and cost.
  • Collaborate across internal teams, in particular with software, optical, mechanical, and product engineering teams, to deliver integrated hardware solutions.
  • Relentlessly strive for continuous improvement, including design improvements.
  • Mentor junior members of the team and help establish engineering best practices.
  • Communicate cost/reliability tradeoffs of design decisions effectively.

Requirements

Your Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline (Masters in EE preferred).
  • 8+ years of experience developing complex electronic systems.
  • Strong experience with mixed-signal circuit design and embedded hardware.
  • Experience designing systems that integrate sensors, imaging devices, communications, or industrial electronics.
  • Experience with embedded Linux or microcontroller-based platforms.
  • Familiarity with wireless communications, GPS/GNSS, or edge computing devices.
  • Experience with cloud computing and fleet management platforms like AWS IoT Core, RemoteIt, etc
  • Familiarity with communication protocols such as SPI, IC, UART, Ethernet, CAN, or USB.
  • Experience with optical sensing, imaging systems, machine vision, or precision agriculture technologies (preferred).
  • Knowledge of design for manufacturability (DFM), design for test (DFT), and regulatory compliance (preferred).

Benefits

InnerPlant provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

InnerPlant provides an amazing opportunity to work on some of the hardest problems facing humanity and help design the agricultural systems of the future.  We're backed by John Deere, large farmers, and veteran venture capitalists.