NPU AI Processor Synthesis Engineer - Sr Lead

Job Title

NPU AI Processor Synthesis Engineer - Sr Lead

Role Summary

Senior hardware engineering role focused on synthesis, integration, verification, and bring-up of NPU/AI processor hardware. The position works within an ASIC/hardware engineering team to optimize designs for power, performance, area, yield and manufacturability across advanced process technologies.

Work involves cross-functional collaboration with design, verification, validation, software, and architecture teams to deliver production-quality hardware and test solutions.

Experience Level

Senior - typically a mid-to-senior engineer (preferred 5+ years hardware engineering experience). Candidates should have prior experience leading technical tasks or small teams and working independently on complex hardware projects.

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include design implementation, verification, and production bring-up for NPU/AI processors:

• Plan, design, optimize, verify, and test electronic systems, including digital/analog/RF/optical, FPGA, and DSP subsystems.
• Integrate features and functionality into hardware designs per roadmap and proposals.
• Perform complex simulations and analyses to meet power, performance, and area targets.
• Support manufacturing bring-up, yield improvement, and characterization of leading-edge products.
• Develop and evaluate test solutions and measurement methodologies to improve test time, yield, and product quality.
• Identify design, compatibility, and compliance risks and propose mitigations.
• Prepare detailed technical documentation for projects and handoffs.
• Provide guidance and supervision to other team members; communicate technical decisions across teams.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience; education details are listed separately below.

• Practical experience with circuit design and schematic capture; ability to use circuit simulation tools for analysis.
• Experience with hardware design and measurement instruments (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, RF test equipment).
• Experience with hardware bring-up, characterization, and debugging of complex systems (FPGA/DSP/ASIC).
• Strong simulation and analysis skills to trade off power, performance, and area.
• Proven ability to collaborate across design, verification, validation, software, and architecture teams.
• Experience writing clear technical documentation and test plans.
• Ability to work independently and provide technical guidance to others.

Nice-to-have:

• Prior technical leadership experience (e.g., leading features or small teams).
• Experience with advanced process technologies and manufacturing optimization.

Education Requirements

Degree required: Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, or a related engineering field. Typical experience-to-degree guidance in the posting: Bachelor’s +3 years, Master’s +2 years, or PhD +1 year. Master’s degree is listed as preferred in the posting.

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.