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Silicon Design Engineering Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Altera

FPGA Silicon Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$149K - $215K/yr

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Math, or related field and 8+ years of industry experience in FPGA or ASIC design. * 8+ years of ...

Intel

Analog Design Engineering Manager

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

As a senior analog design engineering manager, you will lead technical teams to deliver IP that ... Experience in silicon bring-up, post-silicon validation, and lab debug of analog circuits.

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Silicon Design Engineering information

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$52.5K

$134.5K

$207.5K

How much do silicon design engineering jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for silicon design engineering in the United States is $134,466.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,000.00 and $150,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior Silicon Design Engineers with extensive experience, advanced skills in VLSI design, and expertise in tools like Cadence or Synopsys can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially in high-cost-of-living regions or at top technology companies. Achieving this level often requires a combination of specialized knowledge, leadership roles, and sometimes stock options or bonuses.

What is Silicon Design Engineering?

Silicon Design Engineering is the process of designing and developing integrated circuits (ICs), commonly known as chips or microchips, that are used in electronic devices. Silicon design engineers work on the architecture, logic design, verification, and physical layout of these chips, ensuring they meet performance, power, and functionality requirements. Their work is crucial in industries like consumer electronics, computing, automotive, and telecommunications, where advanced semiconductor technology is essential. This field requires strong knowledge in electrical engineering, computer architecture, and specialized software tools for chip design.

What are some common challenges faced by Silicon Design Engineers during the chip development process?

Silicon Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as meeting tight project deadlines, ensuring design accuracy, and coordinating with cross-functional teams like verification and physical design. Debugging complex design issues and optimizing for power, performance, and area constraints are also common hurdles. Additionally, adapting to rapidly evolving technologies and tools requires continuous learning and flexibility. Effective collaboration and clear communication are essential for overcoming these challenges and delivering high-quality silicon products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Silicon Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Silicon Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital logic design, and semiconductor fundamentals, typically supported by a relevant degree. Proficiency with hardware description languages (such as Verilog or VHDL), EDA tools (like Synopsys or Cadence), and simulation software is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for success in this role. These skills are crucial for accurately designing, verifying, and collaborating on complex integrated circuits that meet performance and reliability standards.

What does a silicon design engineer do?

A silicon design engineer develops and tests integrated circuits and semiconductor devices, focusing on creating efficient, reliable chip designs. They use hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog and tools such as CAD software to model, simulate, and verify circuit functionality, often working closely with manufacturing and testing teams.

What is the difference between Silicon Design Engineering vs ASIC Design Engineer?

AspectSilicon Design EngineeringASIC Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or Computer EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, CAD tools, collaboration with cross-functional teamsDesign teams, simulation environments, hardware testing
Industry UsageUsed across semiconductor companies, integrated circuit firmsPrimarily in ASIC development for various industries

Silicon Design Engineering focuses on designing and verifying the physical silicon chips, while ASIC Design Engineers specialize in creating specific application-specific integrated circuits. Both roles require similar credentials and often work in overlapping environments, but their focus areas differ within the chip development process.

How much do silicon design engineers make?

Silicon design engineers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $90,000 to $150,000, depending on experience, location, and company size. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced engineers with specialized skills in VLSI design or FPGA development can earn higher salaries, often supplemented with bonuses and stock options.

Is EEe a high paying job?

Silicon Design Engineering is generally a well-paying profession, especially for those with strong skills in VLSI design, hardware description languages, and experience with CAD tools. Salaries vary based on experience, location, and company size, but it is considered a lucrative field within engineering careers.
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Silicon Design Engineering jobs near you
Infographic showing various Silicon Design Engineering job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $134,466 per year, or $64.6 per hour.
Silicon Design Engineer

Silicon Design Engineer

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc

San Jose, CA • On-site

$145K/yr

Full-time

Posted 11 days ago

Advanced Micro Devices rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

22nd of 139 rated electronics manufacturers

Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING
At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences-from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you'll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world's most important challenges-striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond. Together, we advance your career.
THE ROLE:
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Silicon Design Engineer to join our AECG SIT team. This role involves leading and contributing to the design, integration, and characterization of advanced silicon testchips for FPGA products across cutting-edge process nodes.
THE PERSON:
You are an expert in IC design and manufacturing including analog/digital IP integration, chip design, silicon process or packaging technologies. A good understanding of device physics, reliability and silicon chip manufacturing is essential. The candidate must also demonstrate effective communication, good interpersonal skills, along with a strong interest in emerging technologies and innovation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Define micro-architecture specifications from high-level architectural requirements and implement Verilog/SystemVerilog code for such digital modules.
  • Drive the timing-aware/physical-aware synthesis flow using industry-standard tools (e.g., Design Compiler) to generate optimized netlists.
  • Lead Static Timing Analysis (STA) runs using e.g. PrimeTime to validate setup/hold margins across process corners.
  • Develop comprehensive verification plans and write testbenches. Expertise in SystemVerilog Assertions (SVA) and UVM are preferred.
  • Assist with post-silicon bring-up, debugging, and lab-based validation activities.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
  • Good understanding of circuit design, semiconductor device physics, and device reliability.
  • Experience in designing and validating circuits across advanced technology nodes, including FinFET and Gate-All-Around (GAA).
  • Familiar with digital P&R design flow, RTL coding (Verilog/System Verilog) and design verification (Design Compiler, STA, SVA, UVM, EM-IR).
  • Strong problem-solving skills with hands-on experience in silicon bring-up and the use of lab bench test equipment is a plus.
  • Proficient in C/C++ or Python for programming and scripting.
  • Experience with PCB/package design and signal/power integrity (SI/PI) analysis is a plus.

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:
  • Preferably holds an advanced degree (PhD or MS) in electrical & electronics engineering or physical sciences; alternatively, a bachelor's degree with several years of relevant industry experience is acceptable.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
#LI-TB1
#LI-Hybrid
Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.
AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee-based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third-party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants' needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.
AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD's "Responsible AI Policy" is available here.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

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