Principal SoC Chip Lead

Job Title

Principal SoC Chip Lead

Role Summary

Lead technical execution and program delivery for SoC projects from definition through tape-out and post-silicon support. Coordinate cross-functional engineering teams and drive risk-managed project schedules to achieve on-time, high-quality silicon delivery.

Experience Level

Senior — typically requires 6+ years of semiconductor industry experience.

Responsibilities

Accountable for technical leadership, program execution, and cross-functional coordination across the SoC development lifecycle.

• Own SoC program execution from project definition through tape-out and post-silicon support, including silicon bring-up and validation.
• Drive technical decisions across architecture, RTL, integration, verification, implementation, validation, and system teams.
• Align and coordinate Architecture, RTL, DFT, Verification, Emulation, Physical Design, AMS, IP, and related teams to resolve dependencies and execution bottlenecks.
• Develop and maintain project execution plans; monitor schedule, resources, critical paths, and risks; drive recovery actions as needed.
• Communicate status, technical readiness, key risks, and mitigation plans to product, program, and management stakeholders.
• Own tape-out readiness and coordinate post-silicon validation and issue resolution efforts.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for successful performance in this role.

• 6+ years of semiconductor industry experience.
• Proven experience in SoC development covering architecture through tape-out.
• Strong understanding of SoC development flows: Architecture, RTL design, integration, verification, DFT, emulation, physical design, and silicon validation.
• Experience leading large cross-functional engineering teams in a matrix organization.
• Demonstrated project execution, planning, and risk management skills.
• Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder management capabilities; ability to influence technical direction.

Nice-to-have (preferred):

• Previous roles such as Chip Lead, SoC Technical Lead, Chief Engineer, or Project Technical Leader.
• Experience with automotive, industrial, or safety-critical semiconductor products.
• Experience working with global development teams across multiple sites and successful delivery of multiple SoC tape-outs.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Microelectronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.

About the Company

Company: NXP Semiconductors

Headquarters: Nijmegen, Netherlands

NXP Semiconductors N.V. is a global semiconductor company that provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions. With over 45,000 employees and operations in more than 35 countries, NXP is a leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, catering to automotive, industrial IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. The company is committed to innovation and sustainability, advancing a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through technology.