ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Junior Rtl Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Fractile

Physical Design Engineer

Bristol, VA · On-site

$80 - $120/hr

Work closely with RTL and architecture teams to support design feasibility, constraints, and ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field ...

Fractile

Lead Physical Design Engineer

Bristol, VA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Work closely with RTL and architecture teams to drive design feasibility, constraints, and physical-aware RTL design. * Mentor junior engineers and contribute to building strong physical design ...

Trident Systems Inc.

Senior FPGA Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$97 - $181/hr

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in RTL design, timing closure, simulation, and system ... Mentor junior engineers: provide training, guidance, and support as needed * Ability to support ...

Trident Systems Inc.

Senior FPGA Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$134K - $172K/yr

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in RTL design, timing closure, simulation, and system ... Mentor junior engineers: provide training, guidance, and support as needed * Ability to support ...

Trident Systems LLC

Senior FPGA Engineer

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$97K - $181K/yr

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in RTL design, timing closure, simulation, and system ... Mentor junior engineers: provide training, guidance, and support as needed * Ability to support ...

Actalent

Mechanical Design Engineer

Lyndhurst, VA · On-site

$73K - $99K/yr

Occasionally mentor junior engineers, sharing best practices, reviewing their work, and supporting their technical development. * Contribute to project coordination efforts, including design reviews ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsRtl Design Engineer JobsJunior Rtl Design Engineer JobsJunior Rtl Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Junior Rtl Design Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$33.2K

$71.2K

$108.6K

How much do junior rtl design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior rtl design engineer in Virginia is $71,184.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,100.00 and $79,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a junior RTL design engineer?

Junior RTL Design Engineers are entry-level professionals who work on designing and verifying the Register Transfer Level (RTL) logic for digital integrated circuits. They typically use hardware description languages like Verilog or VHDL to describe and simulate the functionality of hardware blocks according to specifications. Their responsibilities often include coding, simulation, debugging, and collaborating with senior engineers to ensure the design meets performance and functional requirements. This role is crucial in the process of creating chips and digital systems used in various electronic devices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior RTL design engineer?

To thrive as a Junior RTL Design Engineer, a solid background in digital logic design, hardware description languages (such as Verilog or VHDL), and a relevant engineering degree are essential. Experience with simulation and synthesis tools (like ModelSim, Synopsys, or Xilinx Vivado) and a basic understanding of ASIC or FPGA flows are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help individuals excel in translating specifications into efficient hardware designs. These skills ensure accurate, reliable, and high-performance digital circuit development, which is crucial for meeting project goals and industry standards.

What are some common challenges faced by junior RTL design engineers when transitioning from academic projects to industry roles?

Junior RTL Design Engineers often find the transition from academic projects to industry roles challenging due to the increased complexity and scale of commercial designs. In industry, there is a strong emphasis on meeting strict timing, power, and area requirements, as well as adhering to rigorous verification and documentation standards. Collaboration with verification, physical design, and software teams is essential, and juniors may need to quickly adapt to using industry-standard EDA tools and workflows. Gaining proficiency in debugging and understanding legacy codebases are also typical hurdles. However, most teams provide mentorship and structured onboarding to help new engineers succeed.

What is the difference between Junior Rtl Design Engineer vs Digital Design Engineer?

AspectJunior Rtl Design EngineerDigital Design Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or related field; some certificationsBachelor's or higher in Electrical/Electronic Engineering; certifications vary
Work EnvironmentDesign teams in semiconductor or electronics companiesDesign and development teams in similar industries
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed in chip design, FPGA, ASIC developmentUsed in digital circuit and system design across industries

Both roles involve digital circuit design, but Junior Rtl Design Engineers focus more on RTL coding and verification, while Digital Design Engineers may handle broader digital system development. The roles often overlap in skills and work environment, with the main difference being scope and experience level.

What are popular job titles related to Junior Rtl Design Engineer jobs in Virginia?

For Junior Rtl Design Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Junior Rtl Design Engineer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Junior Rtl Design Engineer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Junior Rtl Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Junior Rtl Design Engineer job openings:

Junior Rtl Design Engineer jobs near you

Physical Design Engineer

Fractile

Bristol, VA • On-site

$80 - $120/hr

Other

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Fractile’s mission is to enable a new chapter in the AI revolution. We’re pioneering AI innovation where hardware and software join to create something extraordinary, unlocking the power of the world’s largest language models with speed increases of x100. Our team is rapidly expanding, and we're searching for visionary engineers, scientists, and thinkers who share our passion for pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible. If you're ready to join a dynamic group of innovators shaping AI's future, we want to hear from you!

We are seeking a Physical Design Engineer to contribute to our next‑generation chip designs. As a Physical Design Engineer, you will support the implementation of complex IC physical designs, from synthesis to sign‑off. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including logic design, verification, and process technology, to optimise performance, power, and area (PPA) while ensuring design integrity and manufacturability.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Support the physical implementation of ASIC/SoC designs, including floor planning, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), routing, and sign‑off.
  • Work on synthesis, timing analysis (STA), and optimisation to achieve strong PPA metrics.
  • Assist in power planning and analysis, addressing IR drop, electromigration, and related effects.
  • Ensure design rule check (DRC), layout vs. schematic (LVS), and other physical verification compliance.
  • Collaborate with DFT engineers to integrate design‑for‑test (DFT) structures into the physical implementation.
  • Develop flows in EDA tools such as Cadence Innovus, Synopsys Fusion Compiler, Mentor Graphics Calibre, and others.
  • Work closely with RTL and architecture teams to support design feasibility, constraints, and physical‑aware RTL design.
  • Work with advanced AI tools and models to improve productivity, analysis, and design quality.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
  • 0–5 years of experience in physical design for advanced technology nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm, or below), including internships.
  • Familiarity with EDA tools for place & route, STA, and sign‑off.
  • Basic understanding of CMOS technology, semiconductor physics, and process limitations.
  • Exposure to timing closure, signal integrity, IR drop analysis, and formal verification.
  • Proficiency in scripting languages like TCL, Perl, or Python for automation is a plus.
  • Excellent problem‑solving skills, communication, and teamwork in a collaborative design environment.
  • Interest in working with advanced AI tools and models as part of the design workflow.
  • Experience or coursework in high‑performance computing (HPC), AI accelerators, or networking chips is a plus.
#J-18808-Ljbffr

Apply