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Trainee Ic Layout Designer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Rocket Lab Corporation

Sr. FPGA Engineer II

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$133K - $171K/yr

... Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with ... PCB design and schematic capture and layout with tools such as Altium Designer. * Active TS/SCI ...

Tesla Laboratories, Inc.

Space Planner

Arlington, VA · On-site

... IC), the Department of Defense (DoD), and other federal government customers. We take pride in ... Coordinate projects and planning efforts with engineers, designers, project managers, quality ...

Fractile

Lead Physical Design Engineer

Bristol, VA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

... IC physical designs, from synthesis to sign-off. In this role, you will take on leadership ... Ensure design rule check (DRC), layout vs. schematic (LVS), and other physical verification ...

Two Six Technologies

Hardware Reverse Engingeer

Herndon, VA

$127K - $167K/yr

Reverse engineer and analyze complex embedded systems designs to identify functional behaviors and ... Utilize modern agentic AI systems (e.g., AI-guided PCB layout reconstruction and analysis ...

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Trainee Ic Layout Designer information

What is a trainee IC layout designer?

Trainee IC Layout Designers are entry-level professionals who assist in the design and creation of integrated circuit (IC) layouts using specialized electronic design automation (EDA) tools. They work under the guidance of senior designers to translate circuit schematics into precise geometric representations that can be fabricated on silicon chips. Their responsibilities include following design rules, performing layout verification, and collaborating with engineers to ensure that the final product meets functional and manufacturability standards. This role serves as a foundational step toward becoming a fully qualified IC Layout Designer.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a trainee IC layout designer and how do they interact with other team members?

As a Trainee IC Layout Designer, your daily tasks will involve translating circuit schematics into physical layouts using specialized CAD tools, following strict design rules to ensure manufacturability and performance. You'll often collaborate closely with circuit design engineers to clarify requirements and troubleshoot layout-related issues, as well as work with verification teams to ensure the design meets quality standards. Expect to participate in regular design reviews, receive feedback, and make iterative improvements. This role provides a strong foundation for understanding the full chip design flow and offers opportunities to develop both technical and communication skills within a multidisciplinary team.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a trainee IC layout designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Trainee IC Layout Designer, you need a solid background in electronics or electrical engineering, strong attention to detail, and familiarity with semiconductor design concepts, typically supported by a relevant degree or coursework. Proficiency with Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools such as Cadence Virtuoso or Synopsys Custom Compiler is essential, and knowledge of industry standards like DRC/LVS is beneficial. Strong analytical thinking, teamwork, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with circuit designers and troubleshoot complex layout issues. These skills ensure you can produce accurate, manufacturable layouts that meet design specifications and project timelines.

What is the difference between Trainee Ic Layout Designer vs Junior IC Layout Engineer?

AspectTrainee IC Layout DesignerJunior IC Layout Engineer
CredentialsBasic understanding of IC design, often in training or entry-levelRelevant degree, some experience in IC layout design
Work EnvironmentLearning-focused, supervised tasks in design teamsMore independent work, handling specific layout projects
Industry UsageCommon in training programs and internshipsStandard role in semiconductor companies and design firms
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level roles and training opportunitiesClarifying job responsibilities and experience level

The main difference between a Trainee IC Layout Designer and a Junior IC Layout Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. Trainee roles are typically entry-level, focused on learning and supervised tasks, while Junior Engineers have more hands-on responsibilities and some independent project work. Both roles are essential in the IC design industry, with the trainee position serving as a stepping stone to more advanced engineering roles.

What are the most commonly searched types of Ic Layout Designer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Ic Layout Designer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Trainee Ic Layout Designer jobs in Virginia?

For Trainee Ic Layout Designer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Trainee Ic Layout Designer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Trainee Ic Layout Designer jobs in Virginia are:

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Cities in Virginia with the most Trainee Ic Layout Designer job openings:

Trainee Ic Layout Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Trainee Ic Layout Designer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 82% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Principal FPGA Engineer

Rocket Lab Corporation

Chantilly, VA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago

Rocket Lab rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 14 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

4th of 72 rated aerospace companies

Job description

SPACE SYSTEMS

At Rocket Lab, we're not just launching rockets - we're building the future of space. Our Space Systems team builds everything from complete spacecraft, precision payloads to the components and subsystems that allow them to thrive in space, like solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, radios, and more.

Our Space Systems team has enabled more than 1,700 missions, ranging from interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing to national security and defense initiatives. The team has built spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions to the Moon and Mars, working with partners including NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force. Whether it's a single high-performance spacecraft, constellation, or the vertically integrated components that help them get to space - our world class Space Systems team is empowering some of the boldest and most ambitious space missions.

PRINCIPAL FPGA ENGINEER

Rocket Lab's Optical Systems division solves mission-critical space domain and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) challenges for Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) customers. Our vision is to revolutionize the space-based payload market with innovative and novel designs for space, terrestrial, and airborne environments. Building on more than 20 years of electro-optical and infrared systems innovation from Geost, Optical Systems delivers solutions to the warfighter for responsive, scalable sensing solutions across all orbital domains.

As a Principal FPGA Engineer based at our Optical Systems sites in Chantilly, VA, you will have the opportunity to support Tranche 3 of the U.S. Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) by designing FPGAs for advanced electro-optical (EO/IR) spacecraft payloads.

WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO

  • Work with the hardware design team on requirements.
  • Complete FPGA logic design, coding, simulation, and testing.
  • Support hardware and software development teams in bring-up and test of products.
  • Provide subject-matter expertise regarding design and automated test development procedures to customers and production support team.
  • Perform research and analysis of data, such as customer proposed specifications, datasheets, or manuals to determine design approach and/or feasibility.
  • Execute debugging of the design in the lab.
  • Perform synthesis, implementation, and timing analysis.

YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS PRINCIPAL ENGINEER:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering or equivalent discipline with 12+ years of experience.
  • Experience in FPGA firmware design with VHDL.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain an U.S. Government security clearance.

THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: 

  • Experience with Xilinx/AMD Versal architecture
  • Experience with FPGAs and embedded systems in a radiation environment, including SEU/SEL impact and mitigation.
  • Experience in FPGA- or ASIC-based image processing algorithms.
  • Experience in both creating IP from scratch in RTL and integrating existing IP into RTL and block designs.
  • Familiarity with C, Python or MATLAB and/or experience translating algorithms from a scripted language to HDL.
  • Experience with software interfaces including interrupts and DMA.
  • Experience with DDR4, Aurora, and high-speed transceiver design and verification.
  • Familiarity with AXI Stream and AXI Memory Mapped interfaces.
  • PCB design and schematic capture and layout with tools such as Altium Designer.
  • Active TS/SCI security clearance.

This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.

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