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Microprocessor Engineer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA (NOW HIRING)

Perform software engineering duties in furtherance of research and development efforts for NXP's in-house IC and microprocessor products. Draw concepts from wireless communication theory to devise ...

Familiarity with computer system architecture, microprocessor, and microcontroller fundamentals ... RTOS and overlay programming models * Experience with simulation, emulation and HW development ...

Hardware Engineer III

Hayward, CA · On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

Hardware Engineer III Do you excel in an environment that values working and playing hard? Would ... Experience in microprocessor system architecture * Proficiency in design software tools * Skilled ...

Familiarity with computer system architecture, microprocessor, and microcontroller fundamentals ... RTOS and overlay programming models * Experience with simulation, emulation and HW development ...

Showing results 21-40

Microprocessor Engineer information

See Santa Clara, CA salary details

$88.1K

$196.6K

$240.7K

How much do microprocessor engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for microprocessor engineer in Santa Clara, CA is $196,581.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $167,900.00 and $240,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical career growth opportunities for a microprocessor engineer?

Microprocessor Engineers often begin in entry- or mid-level design roles, working on various facets of processor development and verification. With experience, they can advance to lead engineer positions, project management, or specialize in areas such as systems architecture, low-power design, or performance optimization. Many engineers also transition into roles involving cross-functional leadership or technical strategy within larger hardware or semiconductor companies. Continuing education and keeping up with industry advancements can significantly enhance opportunities for upward mobility and specialization in this dynamic field.

What is a microprocessor engineer?

A Microprocessor Engineer designs, develops, and optimizes microprocessors used in computers, embedded systems, and other electronic devices. They work on architecture, logic design, verification, and performance improvements. Their role involves collaborating with hardware and software teams to ensure efficient integration and functionality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a microprocessor engineer?

To thrive as a Microprocessor Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering or computer engineering, along with strong skills in microprocessor architecture, digital logic design, and embedded systems. Familiarity with hardware description languages (such as VHDL or Verilog), simulation tools, PCB design software, and experience with industry standards are typically important, as are certifications like Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD). Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are valuable soft skills, especially for collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. These capabilities are crucial for developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting microprocessor solutions in a complex, fast-evolving technology landscape.

What are the most commonly searched types of Microprocessor Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA? The most popular types of Microprocessor Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:
What job categories do people searching Microprocessor Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Microprocessor Engineer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:
Infographic showing various Microprocessor Engineer job openings in Santa Clara, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $196,581 per year, or $94.5 per hour.

CPU ML Microarchitect/RTL Engineer

Apple

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, hard-working people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products! The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver groundbreaking Apple products!
Apple's Silicon Engineering Group (SEG) designs high-performance, low power microprocessors that power our innovative products, including the iPhone, iPad, Watch, Vision Pro, and Mac We are looking for an experienced engineer to drive CPU machine-learning accelerator architecture and RTL development for Apple Silicon.
Description
As a CPU ML Microarchitect/RTL Engineer, you will own or participate in the following:
• Micro-architecture development and specification - from early high-level architectural exploration, through micro-architectural research and arriving at a detailed specification
• RTL ownership - development, assessment and refinement of RTL design to target power, performance, area and timing goals
• Verification - support the verification team in test bench development, formal methods, and simulation/emulation for functional verification
• Performance exploration and correlation - explore high-performance strategies and work with the performance verification team to verify that the RTL design meets targeted performance
• Design delivery - work with multi-functional engineering team to implement and verify physical design on the aspects of timing, area, reliability, testability and power
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum BS and 10+ years of relevant industry experience
Experience with microprocessor architecture
Experience with logic design principles with timing and power implications
Experience in Verilog or VHDL
Experience with simulators and waveform debugging process
Preferred Qualifications
Expertise in one or more of the following areas: out-of-order execution, instruction scheduling, integer and floating point execution, load/store execution, cache and memory subsystems
Understanding of low power microarchitecture techniques
Understanding of high-performance techniques and trade-offs in a CPU microarchitecture
Experience in C or C++ programming
Experience using an interpretive language such as Perl or Python

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976