Design Engineer II
Cadence Design SystemsJob Title
Design Engineer II
Role Summary
Work on RTL design for high-speed Ethernet controller IP (MAC, PCS, FEC) used in AI and hyperscale networking, contributing from micro-architecture through silicon delivery. The team is based in Cork and covers RTL design, verification collaboration, and back-end integration.
Experience Level
Mid-level — approximately 2+ years industry experience in RTL design or equivalent practical experience; early-career engineer contributing under senior guidance.
Responsibilities
Primary technical responsibilities and team interactions:
- Design RTL blocks for high-speed Ethernet MAC, PCS, and FEC IP cores (10G up to 1.6T): micro-architecture, coding, lint, and CDC sign-off.
- Implement features per IEEE 802.3dj and Ultra Ethernet Consortium specifications and participate in architecture discussions for multi-rate, multi-port designs.
- Collaborate with verification engineers on test plans, coverage goals, and feature bring-up.
- Work with back-end teams on synthesis, timing closure, and area/power trade-offs for configurable IP.
- Participate in design and code reviews and contribute to improving design quality and processes.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and attributes; preferences noted separately.
- Approximately 2+ years of RTL design experience (ASIC or FPGA) or equivalent practical experience in digital design.
- Proficiency with Verilog or SystemVerilog and core digital design fundamentals (RTL design, FSMs, clocking, CDC, timing).
- Analytical mindset with ability to take designs from specification through implementation with team support.
- Good written and verbal communication; ability to collaborate across design, verification, and back-end teams.
- Nice-to-have: familiarity with simulation/debug tools (Xcelium, VCS, ModelSim or similar), exposure to Ethernet standards/high-speed networking, and awareness of FEC or signal integrity concepts.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electronic/Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline (or a research-based Master’s such as MEng/MSc). Equivalent hands-on industry experience demonstrating strong RTL design capability is accepted. Relevant fields noted include digital design, networking, communications, and signal processing.
About the Company
Company: Cadence Design Systems
Headquarters: San Jose, California, USA
Cadence Design Systems is a global electronic design automation company that provides software, hardware, and intellectual property for designing advanced semiconductor chips. With over 25 years in the industry, Cadence is known for its innovative technology solutions and has been recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. The company is dedicated to solving complex technical challenges in order to enable customers to create revolutionary products and experiences.
