CPU RTL/AI Micro-Architect - AI Development

Qualcomm•Austin, TX

5d•$179,000 - $268,400

About The Position

Qualcomm is a company of inventors pushing the boundaries of high‑performance compute. Building on a legacy of industry‑leading innovation, we are extending our leadership into the datacenter, delivering next‑generation CPU solutions that combine world‑class performance, power efficiency, and scale. As AI transforms every layer of computing, Qualcomm is at the forefront of defining how CPUs are designed, optimized, and deployed for AI-driven and cloud-scale workloads. Central to this transformation is our investment in advanced design methodologies and AI‑augmented engineering workflows—enabling faster innovation cycles, deeper design insight, and higher-quality silicon. We are driving the evolution toward agentic AI-assisted design, where intelligent tools are embedded across the engineering lifecycle—from architecture exploration to RTL development, analysis, and debug. This approach enhances engineering productivity while preserving the deep expertise and rigor required to deliver industry-leading CPU designs. This is the next phase of compute innovation—where high-performance CPU architecture meets AI-driven design practices for the datacenter era. This is the Invention Age — and this is where you come in.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 5+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge in AI/LLM-based engineering tools: Agentic tools (i.e. Codex, Claude Code), Agent-based AI development (prompting, chaining, orchestration)
Solid experience with: Verilog/SystemVerilog (or VHDL) RTL design, Simulation, waveform debug, and verification tools
Knowledge of CPU Design Techniques: Logic design principles and timing/power implications, Low-power microarchitecture techniques, High-performance design tradeoffs

Responsibilities

Apply and extend existing internal AI tools and agent-based workflows to enhance RTL design productivity
Develop AI-driven capabilities for: RTL code review and quality analysis (readability, methodology adherence, structural correctness), Spec ↔ RTL alignment, ensuring consistency between microarchitecture documentation and implementation, Automated debug acceleration, including waveform triage and root-cause identification
Integrate AI into standard RTL development loops rather than creating parallel flows
Enable AI-assisted analysis for: Timing, power, and area (PPA) tradeoffs, Microarchitectural bottlenecks and inefficiencies, Code-level improvements for maintainability and reuse
Develop mechanisms to surface actionable insights early in the design cycle, improving iteration velocity
Embed AI capabilities into existing toolchains and methodologies (lint, synthesis, simulation, debug)
Collaborate with CAD, DV, and global design teams to scale AI-enabled workflows across programs and geographies
Contribute to cross-team AI initiatives and working groups to align efforts and maximize reuse of internal capabilities
Evolve RTL methodology by integrating AI-assisted best practices into: Coding standards and review processes, Debug and analysis workflows, Documentation and specification alignment
Ensure solutions align with Qualcomm’s established RTL principles of readability, maintainability, and cross-discipline usability