NPU RTL Design Engineer

Job Title

NPU RTL Design Engineer

Role Summary

Design and integrate RTL microarchitecture for Hexagon/NPU cores within the DSP Architecture and Design team. Collaborate with system architects, verification, and physical design teams to deliver high-performance, low-power ASIC blocks for SoC integration.

Experience Level

Mid-level. Typical expectation is 2+ years of relevant experience in high-performance microprocessor or RTL design (posting provides degree-dependent experience ranges).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Define micro-architecture and produce documentation for Hexagon/NPU blocks and subsystems.
• Develop RTL for multiple logic blocks and integrate into SoC subsystems.
• Run front-end checks such as linting, CDC analysis, and power-intent validation.
• Use synthesis and static timing analysis tools; work with physical design on constraints and timing closure.
• Perform area and power optimization for logic blocks.
• Collaborate with verification on test plans, debug, and coverage closure; support internal hardware integration.
• Contribute ideas to ASIC, IP core, and process flow improvements.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience:

• Practical RTL development experience in SystemVerilog/Verilog (functional and structural RTL).
• Experience with front-end EDA tools: lint, CDC, LEC, CLP, synthesis, and STA.
• Knowledge of PLDRC, clock domain crossing, low-power design techniques, and design partitioning.
• Experience with microprocessor design elements such as processor integration and bus interfaces.
• Proven ability to collaborate with verification and physical design teams on test/debug and timing closure.
• Strong skills in timing closure, area and power optimization.

Nice-to-have: deeper processor integration, cache/bus interface design, and computer architecture experience.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field with 2+ years relevant experience; OR Master's degree in those fields with 1+ year; OR PhD in those fields. The posting accepts related work experience as described in the minimum-qualification options.

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.