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Semiconductor Design Engineer Jobs in California

Summary Description Syntiant Corp., a leader in the high‑growth AI software and semiconductor solutions space and is looking for a motivated and creative Analog Mixed‑Signal Design Engineer to ...

Dir, CAD Eng • R&D

San Jose, CA · On-site

$160 - $200/hr

... 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 ...

Syntiant Corp., a leader in the high-growth AI software and semiconductor solutions space and is looking for a motivated and creative Analog Mixed-Signal Design Engineer to take on a critical role ...

Syntiant Corp., a leader in the high-growth AI software and semiconductor solutions space and is looking for a motivated and creative Analog Mixed-Signal Design Engineer to take on a critical role ...

Showing results 41-60

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 10, 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:
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.

Analog Mixed-Signal Design Engineer

Syntiant Corp.

San Diego, CA • On-site

$200 - $230/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

Summary Description

Syntiant Corp., a leader in the high‑growth AI software and semiconductor solutions space and is looking for a motivated and creative Analog Mixed‑Signal Design Engineer to take on a critical role with expansive responsibilities and play a leading role in enhancing the ASIC function in a growing organization.

The Analog Mixed‑Signal Design Engineer will be responsible for working in a fast‑paced, market‑oriented fabless R&D team environment, developing ASIC technology for MEMS based microphones and related audio solutions.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities
  • Responsible for top‑level integration of complex mixed signal systems.
  • Supervision and review of all block‑level design and layout.
  • Responsible for coordinating with digital and system teams: define specifications and interaction between blocks.
  • Verify functionality and performance through top‑level mixed signal simulations.
  • Design and verification of analog/mixed‑signal blocks as needed.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Education, and Experience Required
  • MS in EE.
  • Ph.D. in EE with focus on analog/mixed‑signal IC design is preferred.
  • 6-8 years Design experience targeting audio‑frequency products.
  • HV design experience, such as on‑chip charge pumps and switching regulators.
  • A/D and D/A design experience.
  • Micropower circuit design.
  • Knowledge of analog and mixed‑signal circuits such as op‑amps (single‑stage, two‑stage, OTA’s, class A, class AB, etc.), comparators (clocked/dynamic and continuous‑time), analog continuous‑and discrete‑time filters, reference generators (bandgap, PTAT), and regulators (LDO’s).
  • Solid understanding of CMOS circuit design and device fundamentals.
  • Knowledge of circuit layout techniques and effects, such as matching and shielding.
  • Experience with Cadence design tools (Virtuoso Schematic, Spectre/APS, AMS).
  • Self‑motivated, passionate about circuit design, good analytical and communication skills, able to work in an agile team setting.
Benefits Summary
  • Medical: Several plan options including PPO and HSA‑compatible plans from Anthem Blue Cross, most of which are 100% paid by Syntiant Corp. for you and your family.
  • Dental: Company‑paid dental PPO coverage from MetLife, including coverage for Orthodontia.
  • Vision: Company‑paid vision PPO coverage from MetLife (VSP).
  • Life Insurance / AD&D: Company‑paid basic Life / AD&D coverage in the amount of 3x your salary (up to $1,000,000). Additional supplemental life insurance with low group rates is available for yourself and your family.
  • Disability Coverage: Company‑paid Short Term and Long‑Term Disability coverage provides up to 60% income replacement protection.
  • Spending and Savings Accounts: Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefits for Health Care and Dependent Care. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for those enrolled in a qualified Medical plan.
  • 401K Retirement Plan: Administered by Empower, the 401(k) plan allows you to plan for your future by investing a portion of each paycheck.
  • Other Benefits: A company‑provided Employee Assistance Program (EAP), as well as access to additional voluntary benefits including Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Legal Support, and Identity Fraud Protection.
About Syntiant

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Syntiant Corp. is a leader in delivering hardware and software solutions for edge AI deployment. The company’s purpose‑built silicon and hardware‑agnostic models are being deployed globally to power edge AI speech, audio, sensor and vision applications across a wide range of consumer and industrial use cases, from earbuds to automobiles. Syntiant’s advanced chip solutions merge deep learning with semiconductor design to produce ultra‑low‑power, high‑performance, deep neural network processors. Syntiant also provides compute‑efficient software solutions with proprietary model architectures that enable world‑leading inference speed and minimized memory footprint across a broad range of processors. The company is backed by several of the world’s leading strategic and financial investors including Intel Capital, Microsoft’s M12, Applied Ventures, Bosch Ventures, the Amazon Alexa Fund, and Atlantic Bridge Capital. More information on the company can be found by visiting www.syntiant.com.

One element in our total compensation package is base pay. The starting base pay for this role is targeted to be between $200,000 to $230,000. Individual compensation decisions are based on a number of factors, including but not limited to previous experience and skills acquired prior to joining Syntiant, cost of living in the assigned work location, assigned schedule, and salaries of similarly situated peers at the company. It is to be expected that candidates will come to us with different sets of skills and experiences and therefore will be paid at different points in the stated range. We recognize that the person(s) we select for hire may be less experienced or more experienced than the role as posted; if this is the case, any updates to available salary ranges will be communicated with candidates during the recruitment process.

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