Semiconductor IC Design Engineer Jobs in Denver, Colorado
Colorado's chip scene is smaller than Phoenix or Austin, but it is real and it leans defense. Microchip runs sizable operations in Colorado Springs, the old Maxim Integrated teams live on inside Analog Devices, and a ring of FPGA, embedded, and RF shops serve aerospace, satellite, and telecom customers along the Front Range. Semiconductor IC design engineer jobs in Denver cluster around mixed-signal, RF, and FPGA work rather than high-volume consumer SoCs.
The defense tilt shapes the roles. RF IC engineers here design for radar and satellite links, FPGA engineers target systems that cannot fail in orbit, and analog teams build power management for avionics and space. If RF is your specialty, the region's RF IC openings are worth a look. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris all run Colorado sites with silicon work buried inside larger programs, and Viasat designs aerospace ICs in the state. Ball Aerospace builds satellite electronics and payloads out of Boulder, which keeps steady demand for radiation-tolerant and mixed-signal parts.
On the commercial side, Microchip hires in Colorado Springs across microcontrollers and analog parts, and Analog Devices keeps mixed-signal design going from the Maxim heritage teams. Boulder and Fort Collins add a startup layer in embedded and wireless, and telecom suppliers there keep steady demand for SerDes and interface work. If you are comparing markets, Silicon Valley semiconductor jobs pay more but cost more, and remote and hybrid roles widen the search if you would rather stay near the mountains than move for a badge.
Pay is solid without Bay Area inflation. Mid-level IC design engineers around Denver and Colorado Springs generally earn $105,000 to $145,000 in base, with senior roles reaching $160,000 to $195,000 in total compensation. Defense positions sometimes sit a little under commercial rates and trade that for stability and long program horizons.
One thing to plan for: many of the defense roles want US citizenship and a security clearance, so factor that in before you count on a given listing.
CU Boulder and Colorado State feed the local teams, and plenty of engineers take a slightly lower number to stay near the mountains.
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FAQ
What semiconductor companies hire IC design engineers in Colorado?
Microchip Technology is the biggest commercial employer, with operations in Colorado Springs. Analog Devices carries the former Maxim Integrated teams. On the defense and aerospace side, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, and Viasat all run programs with RF, FPGA, and analog IC work, and AMD keeps former Xilinx FPGA staff in the state. Smaller consultancies fill in mixed-signal and analog contract roles.
What specializations are strongest for semiconductor jobs in Colorado?
Colorado is strongest in defense and aerospace silicon. That means RF IC design for radar and satellite links, FPGA design for mission-critical systems, mixed-signal IC work, and power management built to survive space and avionics environments. The heavy defense-contractor presence creates roles you will not usually find in a commercial chip hub, though more of that work sits behind clearance requirements.
Is a security clearance required for Colorado semiconductor design jobs?
Often, yes. Defense and aerospace roles at Raytheon, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, and Viasat frequently require US citizenship and an active or obtainable Secret or Top Secret clearance. Commercial jobs at Microchip and Analog Devices do not. SemiDesignJobs marks clearance requirements on each listing, so you can filter out roles you are not eligible for before you apply.