Senior ASIC Design Engineer

About Axonne

Axonne Inc. is a fabless Silicon Valley semiconductor company developing cutting-edge high-speed networking solutions for the automotive and robotics industries. Our products enhance connectivity, data transfer, security, and system integration — enabling AI/ML applications and Software-Defined Networking in vehicles and robots.

Our Bucharest, Romania site expands Axonne's presence in Europe and serves as a hub for engineering innovation and product development, bringing together talented engineers working on next-generation technologies.

The Role

You will be a key member of Axonne’s R&D Digital ASIC Design team, developing the company’s core proprietary IP and next-generation silicon platforms. As a Senior ASIC Design Engineer, you will take end-to-end ownership of digital ASIC functional blocks and subsystems, from specification and RTL design through verification, silicon validation, and qualification. You will work closely with cross-functional teams and development partners to deliver robust, high-performance designs and help shape the technology roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of digital ASIC functional blocks and/or subsystems from architecture and RTL implementation through verification, silicon validation, and qualification.
• Proactively collaborate with cross-functional teams and development partners to define and align on specifications, lead design reviews, resolve technical issues, and ensure comprehensive documentation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external development partners, driving effective collaboration and successful execution of joint development activities.
• Serve as a key technical contributor to ASIC roadmaps, architecture evolution, and future product innovation.
• Drive co-development activities, including prototyping ASIC designs on FPGA platforms and developing software models to enable pre-silicon firmware development, validation, and verification.
• Identify and drive improvements in design methodologies, verification strategies, development processes, and EDA/tool automation to improve engineering productivity, quality, and time-to-market.

Required Qualifications

• BS or MS degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent, with a focus on VLSI design.
• Minimum 5 years of ASIC or SoC design and development experience.
• Deep expertise in embedded systems design, verification, and the end-to-end product development lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of digital ASIC/SoC design methodologies and flows, from RTL development through synthesis, timing closure, verification, tape-out, and silicon characterization.
• Extensive experience with industry-standard EDA tools, including Synopsys and Cadence platforms for simulation, synthesis, static timing analysis (STA), formal verification, and assertion-based verification; proficiency with Verilator for RTL simulation.
• Strong expertise in UVM-based verification methodologies and scalable verification environments.
• Proficiency in SystemVerilog and programming languages such as Python and C, with the ability to develop robust design, verification, and automation solutions.
• Proficiency with Git and modern software development and version-control practices.
• Excellent analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to drive complex technical issues to resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across hardware, software, verification, and systems teams and effectively communicate and negotiate technical trade-offs.
• Ability to take ownership of complex technical problems, influence design decisions, and drive projects from concept through production.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep domain expertise in one or more of the following areas:
• ARM-based processor and subsystem architectures.
• AMBA protocols and specifications, including AXI, AXI-Stream (AXIS), and APB.
• Application of AI/ML techniques to accelerate ASIC design, verification, automation, and overall engineering productivity.
• Experience defining verification strategies, improving development methodologies, and driving improvements in engineering productivity and quality.
• Experience working across multiple stages of the ASIC/SoC development lifecycle, from architecture and RTL through tape-out and post-silicon validation.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Real end-to-end ownership of your blocks, in a small and experienced team.

Axonne is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and fast-growing automotive semiconductor startup and contribute to the development of cutting-edge ASIC technology that powers the future of automotive E/E Architecture innovation. We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you to our team!

Note: Axonne does not accept unsolicited referrals from recruitment agencies for all open positions.