Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Hardware Design Engineer

🎯 Role Definition

As a key member of our hardware development team, you will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of hardware design, from architectural definition and RTL implementation to silicon bring-up and validation. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams including architecture, verification, physical design, and software to deliver complex, high-performance, and power-efficient System-on-Chip (SoC) and IP solutions. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on products used by millions worldwide.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Hardware Engineer
Hardware Design Intern
Verification Engineer
Graduate Electrical/Computer Engineer

Advancement To:

Senior Hardware Design Engineer
Principal Hardware Engineer
Hardware Engineering Manager
Staff Engineer

Lateral Moves:

Systems Architect
Design Verification Engineer
Physical Design Engineer
Technical Program Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Architect and define the microarchitecture for complex digital logic blocks, SoCs, and/or FPGAs based on high-level product and system requirements.
Develop, deliver, and document high-quality, synthesizable RTL code in Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL for various hardware components.
Collaborate closely with the design verification team to develop comprehensive test plans and debug functional and performance issues throughout the design lifecycle.
Perform synthesis, static timing analysis (STA), and formal verification to ensure designs meet stringent timing, area, and power targets.
Lead the integration of third-party and internal IP blocks into the top-level SoC design, ensuring proper connectivity and functionality.
Drive low-power design initiatives by implementing advanced techniques such as clock gating, power gating, and multi-voltage domains.
Conduct detailed power analysis and estimations using tools like PTPX to optimize energy efficiency for mobile and battery-powered devices.
Work with physical design teams to resolve implementation-related challenges, including floorplanning, placement, and routing congestion.
Define and manage block-level and chip-level clocking and reset architectures, ensuring robustness and glitch-free operation.
Participate in and contribute to pre-silicon validation on FPGA and emulation platforms to catch bugs early and enable software development.
Lead post-silicon bring-up, validation, and debugging efforts on laboratory benches using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
Develop and maintain detailed design specifications, microarchitecture documents, and other critical engineering documentation.
Analyze and resolve complex hardware bugs found during simulation, emulation, and post-silicon validation, often requiring cross-functional collaboration.
Create and maintain scripts (e.g., in Python, Perl, Tcl) to automate design, verification, and data analysis tasks, improving team productivity.
Evaluate and select third-party IP solutions, considering factors like performance, power, area, and integration complexity.
Run and analyze linting, Clock Domain Crossing (CDC), and Reset Domain Crossing (RDC) reports to ensure high-quality and robust design.
Characterize the performance and power of silicon across different process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) corners.
Support firmware and software teams by providing hardware visibility, debug hooks, and clear documentation for register interfaces.
Drive system-level performance analysis and modeling to guide architectural trade-offs early in the design phase.
Engage in schematic design and review for board-level components, ensuring signal integrity and power integrity for high-speed interfaces like PCIe, DDR, and MIPI.
Mentor junior engineers, providing technical guidance, conducting code reviews, and fostering a culture of engineering excellence.
Stay current with the latest industry standards, technologies, and EDA tool methodologies to continuously improve design practices.

Secondary Functions

Support manufacturing and test engineering teams with diagnostics and failure analysis during production ramp.
Create and deliver clear, concise design review presentations to technical leadership and peers.
Collaborate with technical writers to produce customer-facing documentation and application notes.
Participate in sprint planning, agile ceremonies, and contribute to continuous improvement of the team's design methodology.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency in RTL coding using HDLs such as SystemVerilog, Verilog, or VHDL.
Strong understanding of digital logic design fundamentals, computer architecture, and memory subsystems.
Experience with industry-standard EDA tools for simulation, synthesis, and static timing analysis (e.g., Synopsys VCS/Design Compiler/PrimeTime, Cadence Xcelium/Genus/Tempus).
Expertise in scripting languages like Python, Perl, or Tcl for automation and data processing.
Hands-on experience with ASIC, SoC, or FPGA design and verification flows.
Knowledge of low-power design techniques (UPF/CPF, clock gating, power gating).
Familiarity with high-speed interface protocols such as PCIe, DDR, USB, or MIPI.
Experience with post-silicon bring-up and debugging using lab equipment (logic analyzers, oscilloscopes).
Knowledge of Clock Domain Crossing (CDC) and Reset Domain Crossing (RDC) principles and tools.
Understanding of the complete design-to-tapeout flow, including physical design and DFT concepts.
Experience with formal verification and equivalence checking methodologies is a strong plus.

Soft Skills

Exceptional analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical ideas clearly.
Strong collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively in a dynamic, cross-functional team environment.
Proactive, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
A passion for learning and a desire to tackle new and challenging problems.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in a relevant technical field.

Preferred Education:

Master of Science (M.S.) or Ph.D. in a relevant technical field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Engineering (EE)
Computer Engineering (CE)
Computer Science (CS) with a hardware focus

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-10+ years of relevant industry experience in hardware, ASIC, or FPGA design.

Preferred: Demonstrated experience taking at least one complex chip or IP from architecture through to mass production.