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Semiconductor Design Engineer Jobs in California

Taara Connect, Inc

Board Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Taara is seeking a Board Design Engineer to lead the complete printed circuit board design from ... Knowledge of semiconductor design, measurement and packaging * Experience in analog and mixed ...

Lattice Semiconductor

Dir, CAD Eng R&D

San Jose, CA

... Engineering, or related field. * Experience : 15+ years in semiconductor design, with at least 7 ... years in EDA methodology leadership. * Technical Expertise : Deep knowledge of RTL design ...

Micron

DMTS, DRAM Systems

Folsom, CA · On-site

$215K - $416K/yr

As a Semiconductor Design Engineer, you will play a key role in designing next-generation DRAM products that deliver industry-leading performance, power efficiency, quality, and reliability. This is ...

Micron Technology

DMTS, DRAM Systems

San Jose, CA · On-site

$215K - $416K/yr

As a Semiconductor Design Engineer, you will play a key role in designing next-generation DRAM products that deliver industry-leading performance, power efficiency, quality, and reliability. This is ...

Elevate Semiconductor

Analog Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$214K/yr

At Elevate Semiconductor, we empower semiconductor and system test customers by creating world ... As an Analog Design Engineer, you will be part of a collaborative team developing leading edge ATE ...

Micron

DMTS, DRAM Systems

San Jose, CA · On-site

$215K - $416K/yr

As a Semiconductor Design Engineer, you will play a key role in designing next-generation DRAM products that deliver industry-leading performance, power efficiency, quality, and reliability. This is ...

Elevate Semiconductor

Analog Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$214K/yr

At Elevate Semiconductor, we empower semiconductor and system test customers by creating world ... As an Analog Design Engineer, you will be part of a collaborative team developing leading edge ATE ...

Elevate Semiconductor

Analog Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$214K/yr

At Elevate Semiconductor, we empower semiconductor and system test customers by creating world ... As an Analog Design Engineer, you will be part of a collaborative team developing leading edge ATE ...

Mirafra Technology

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$144K - $148K/yr

Company Description Mirafra is a global product engineering services company with expertise in semiconductor design, embedded and application software. Job Overview: The Graphics team is looking for ...

Search Tactics LLC

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

H-1, USC Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Physical Design Engineer to support the implementation of high-performance semiconductor designs targeting advanced process technologies. This ...

search-tactics

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$70 - $80/hr

H-1, GC, USC is okay C2C Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Physical Design Engineer to support the implementation of high-performance semiconductor designs targeting advanced process ...

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All JobsSemiconductor Design Engineer JobsSemiconductor Design Engineer Jobs in California

Semiconductor Design Engineer information

See California salary details

$40K

$87K

$156.4K

How much do semiconductor design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for semiconductor design engineer in California is $86,995.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,100.00 and $97,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do semiconductor design engineers make?

Semiconductor design engineers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $80,000 to $130,000, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior engineers with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000 annually.

What is the difference between Semiconductor Design Engineer vs Semiconductor Test Engineer?

AspectSemiconductor Design EngineerSemiconductor Test Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning integrated circuits and semiconductor devicesTesting and validating semiconductor products for functionality and quality
Required SkillsVLSI design, CAD tools, circuit theoryTest methodologies, debugging, automation tools
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, CAD software, collaboration with R&D teamsTest labs, production lines, quality assurance teams
Industry UsageUsed by chip manufacturers, electronics companiesUsed by testing and quality assurance departments in semiconductor firms

While both roles are essential in the semiconductor industry, Semiconductor Design Engineers focus on creating and developing new chip designs, whereas Semiconductor Test Engineers ensure these chips meet quality standards through rigorous testing. Both roles require technical expertise and often collaborate during product development cycles.

What does a semiconductor design engineer do?

A semiconductor design engineer develops and tests integrated circuits and semiconductor devices used in electronic equipment. They use electronic design automation (EDA) tools, create circuit schematics, and verify performance through simulations to ensure functionality and efficiency. This role often requires knowledge of physics, electrical engineering, and programming skills.

What are some common challenges semiconductor design engineers face when working on complex chip projects?

Semiconductor Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing performance, power consumption, and area constraints while meeting strict project deadlines. Coordinating with cross-functional teams—including verification, manufacturing, and software engineers—requires strong communication and adaptability skills. Additionally, staying updated with rapidly evolving tools and industry standards is essential to ensure successful tape-out and avoid costly design errors. Addressing these challenges helps build expertise and opens up opportunities for advancement in the field.

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

To thrive as a Semiconductor Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, semiconductor physics, and circuit design, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD tools like Cadence or Synopsys, as well as experience with HDL languages such as Verilog or VHDL, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork help differentiate top performers in this role. These skills ensure the efficient design, verification, and optimization of complex semiconductor devices, which are critical for innovation and product reliability.
What are popular job titles related to Semiconductor Design Engineer jobs in California? For Semiconductor Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Semiconductor Design Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Semiconductor Design Engineer jobs in California are:
Semiconductor Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Semiconductor Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $86,995 per year, or $41.8 per hour.

Principal Design Engineer

Navitas Semiconductor

Torrance, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Job description

Job Description:

Title: Principal Design Engineer (Principal Analog IC Designer)

Reports to: VP of IC Design

In Office

Exempt

Based: Torrance, CA - Corporate Office

Job Purpose:

Navitas Semiconductor is a publicly traded MNC that creates the world's fasted integrated GaN Power ICs. Design Engineers will design, implement, and verify power IC through transistor level to top-level for a myriad of PMIC products.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Evaluate system-level trade-offs for next generation power supply and identify IC architectures in collaboration with the system application team to meet performance requirements

  • Interface with characterization, modeling, and EDA design engineers to define and optimize device characteristics and simulation needs

  • Guide layout engineers on physical design

  • Review layouts and floorplan and provide feedback for optimal layout design

  • Tape out designs on schedule, adhering to required specifications

  • Evaluate and validate designs in the lab and identify any deviations from requirements and implement corrective actions

  • Any and all other duties, as assigned

KSAOs:

  • Knowledge and strong understanding of semiconductor device physics, device safe-operating area, and power transistors used for high-frequency switching

  • Proven track record of designing power IC from concept phase to massive production

  • Strong proficiency with EDA tools (Cadence Specter, Virtuoso XL, Post Parasitic Extraction simulations, Monte Carlo Analysis, etc.)

  • Experience with DFT approaches and development of characterization and production test plans

  • Professionalism towards internal and external partners

  • Demonstrated ability to autonomously manage a myriad of demands and prioritize effectively

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

  • Maintains accountability for actions (ownership of work)

  • Extremely reliable and self-motivated with the ability to champion tasks

Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in electrical engineering and 10+ years’ experience OR

  • PhD in electrical engineering and 7+ years’ experience

  • Extensive previous experience in chip design in the power supply field (Analog IC Design, Power Management IC, PMIC, AC-DC, AC-DC Controller, ACF, LLC, QR)

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