Staff Design Engineer

Job Title

Staff Design Engineer

Role Summary

Design and delivery of ASIC/IP blocks and/or SoC subsystems for high-performance, low-power products. Work on architecture, detailed design, verification, validation, and documentation while collaborating with cross-functional teams (software, hardware architecture, product and program management).

Experience Level

Senior - staff-level role. Candidates typically have multiple years of ASIC design or verification experience (see Education Requirements for specific years guidance).

Responsibilities

Principal technical and cross-functional duties include:

• Define, model, design (digital and/or analog), optimize, verify, validate, implement, and document IP blocks or SoC designs.
• Create advanced architectures, circuit specifications, logic designs, and system simulations from system requirements.
• Drive implementation strategy with software/hardware architects and program/product teams to meet system and customer requirements.
• Evaluate full implementation flow (high-level design to synthesis, place & route, timing, power) or custom circuit/layout flows.
• Use EDA and design tools (e.g., RTL-to-GDS flows, Virtuoso) to execute complex block or SoC designs.
• Write and review detailed technical documentation for EDA/IP/ASIC projects.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to other engineers; make decisions affecting work beyond the immediate team.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience (minimum qualifications summarized separately under Education Requirements):

• 4+ years (see Education Requirements for degree-equivalent alternatives) of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related hands-on experience.
• Practical experience with architecture and design tools.
• Scripting and programming experience for automation and design flows.
• Familiarity with design verification methods and flows.
• Experience working with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders; strong verbal and written communication.
• Ability to plan, problem-solve, and prioritize complex tasks with minimal supervision.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience creating or evaluating advanced architectures and system-level simulations.
• Experience across RTL-to-GDS flows and custom analog/layout flows.

Education Requirements

Minimum qualifications (any one): Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, or related field plus 4+ years ASIC-related experience; or Master’s degree plus 3+ years; or PhD plus 2+ years. Preferred fields: Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science. Statement allows equivalent practical experience in lieu of the listed degrees/years.

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.