Senior CPU RTL Design Engineer

Job Title

Senior CPU RTL Design Engineer

Role Summary

Member of Intel's CPU design team responsible for defining, implementing, and optimizing microarchitectural features in RTL for next-generation processors. Work spans architecture, RTL development, power/performance/area/timing optimization, and cross-functional integration with verification, physical design, and SoC teams.

Position follows a hybrid work model based at the assigned Intel site (primary location: Austin, TX) with collaboration across multiple engineering groups.

Experience Level

Senior — typically requires 7+ years of relevant industry experience (see Education Requirements for degree/experience combinations).

Responsibilities

Principal engineering responsibilities include RTL design, microarchitecture delivery, and cross-discipline integration.

• Develop, code, and simulate RTL for CPU features using SystemVerilog.
• Define and document microarchitectural specifications for CPU blocks.
• Optimize logic for power, performance, area, and timing (PPA/T) targets.
• Design for physical implementation integrity and collaborate on timing closure strategies.
• Review verification plans, resolve RTL failures, and support validation activities.
• Collaborate with SoC integration teams to ensure block-level compatibility and performance.
• Use scripting for automation, debug, and tool flow integration.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience. Preferred items listed separately.

• Must-have: 7+ years RTL design experience with SystemVerilog and hardware modeling/logic debug.
• Must-have: Experience optimizing energy-efficient and low-power logic (≈5+ years) and high-frequency design techniques.
• Must-have: Experience with clock-domain crossing (CDC) and power-aware design methodologies (≈5+ years).
• Must-have: Proficiency in scripting (TCL, Perl, or Python; ≈3+ years) for design/flow automation.
• Nice-to-have / Preferred: Knowledge of CPU power management (DVFS, power states, reset handling), Intel ISA/system architecture, static timing analysis, UPF, lint, and high-speed datapath/circuit optimization.
• Soft skills: Strong ownership, cross-functional collaboration, clear technical communication, and data-driven decision making.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related STEM field with 7+ years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree in those fields with 5+ years of experience. A PhD in a related field with 2+ years of experience is listed as preferred. (No specific certifications required; equivalent practical experience aligns with the stated experience ranges.)

About the Company

Company: Intel Corporation

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA

Intel Corporation is a leading multinational technology company known for its innovative semiconductor solutions, including microprocessors, artificial intelligence accelerators, and memory products. Headquartered in the United States, Intel focuses on cutting-edge technology and a collaborative working environment, driving advancements in semiconductor manufacturing to meet global demands. The company emphasizes professional development and aims to shape the future of technology through groundbreaking designs.