Principal Memory Controller RTL Design Engineer

Job Title

Principal Memory Controller RTL Design Engineer

Role Summary

The Principal Memory Controller RTL Design Engineer will define and implement memory controller micro-architecture and RTL, optimize for area/power/performance, and integrate functional IP into SoC platforms for Microsoft cloud hardware. The role sits in Compute Silicon & Manufacturing Engineering within Microsoft Silicon and supports large-scale cloud infrastructure.

Experience Level

Principal / Senior-level. The posting defines required experience via degree/experience combinations (see Education Requirements). Preferred candidates typically have 10+ years of memory-controller design experience, especially with high-performance DDR4/DDR5 controllers.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include RTL design, verification support, and cross-team integration.

• Define and implement micro-architectural specifications in Verilog/SystemVerilog.
• Refine implementations for area, power, and performance trade-offs.
• Integrate functional IP into SoC and collaborate with IP providers.
• Develop and run basic tests to exercise block functionality.
• Perform RTL quality checks: lint, CDC/RDC, low-power intent checks, and timing quality-of-results.
• Automate tasks and workflows using scripting and AI techniques for efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver production-quality blocks on schedule.

Requirements

Must-have items and important role constraints; preferred skills follow.

• Must meet Microsoft security and export-control screening requirements (Microsoft Cloud Background Check and proof of citizenship/residency as required for access to export-controlled information).
• Substantial hands-on RTL design and SoC integration experience (formal experience mapping provided in Education Requirements).
• Experience with RTL quality and verification flows (lint, CDC/RDC, low-power intent, timing QoR).
• Nice-to-have: deep experience designing high-performance DDR4/DDR5 memory controllers (preferred 10+ years), high-speed design principles, front-end tools (simulators, CDC checkers, linting), synthesis/STA familiarity, scripting (Perl/Tcl/Python), multi-bit ECC (e.g., Reed-Solomon), and industry interfaces (CHI, APB, AMBA).

Education Requirements

Degree and experience combinations accepted: Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field plus 3+ years technical engineering experience; OR Master’s in those fields plus 6+ years; OR Bachelor’s in those fields plus 8+ years; OR equivalent practical experience. Fields called out include Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. Equivalent experience is explicitly allowed.

About the Company

Company: Microsoft

Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States

Microsoft is a global technology company that develops and sells software, services, devices, and solutions. Known for its Windows operating system, Office suite, and Azure cloud platform, Microsoft aims to empower individuals and organizations around the world to achieve more. The company fosters a culture of innovation and inclusion, focusing on delivering trusted experiences to customers and partners globally.