Principal Silicon Design Engineer
About The Position
Altera is seeking a Principal High-Speed Interface / Silicon Design Engineer to lead the architecture, design, integration, and verification of advanced high-speed interface IP for next-generation FPGA devices. In this role, you will serve as a senior technical authority for high-speed digital interfaces and silicon design, working across architecture, RTL design, verification, PHY/PCS integration, and system-level implementation. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in PCI Express and other high-speed serial interfaces, with hands-on experience developing complex RTL and silicon IP from architecture through implementation and validation. Experience with PCIe, PHY/PCS, MIPI/MPHY, HDMI, USB/DisplayPort, high-speed equalization, and PAM4 technologies is highly valued. This role will partner closely with architecture, analog/PHY, verification, FPGA, software, and system teams to deliver robust, high-performance interface solutions for Altera's next-generation FPGA platforms.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
- 12+ years of experience in ASIC, SoC, FPGA, silicon, or digital IC design.
- 8+ years of experience designing and developing high-speed interface IP or digital subsystems, including hands-on RTL development using Verilog and/or SystemVerilog.
- 5+ years of experience with PCI Express, PCIe PHY/PCS, MAC, Link, or related high-speed serial interface technologies.
- 3+ years of experience architecting or leading complex silicon IP or subsystem designs through multiple stages of the development lifecycle.
- 3+ years of experience working with high-speed interface technologies such as MIPI/MPHY, HDMI, USB, DisplayPort, or comparable serial interfaces.
- 3+ years of experience with digital implementation and signoff methodologies, including lint, CDC, synthesis, static timing analysis, and/or equivalence checking.
- Experience with high-speed equalization or signal-processing techniques, including technologies such as PAM4, FFE, DFE, CDR, LMS, or related methodologies.
- Experience providing technical leadership, architecture ownership, design reviews, and mentorship for complex engineering projects.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
- Experience with PCIe Gen5/Gen6 or higher-speed PCIe architectures.
- Experience with PAM4-based high-speed interfaces and digital signal-processing implementations.
- Experience integrating digital logic with analog PHY IP, including PLL, CDR, DFE, equalization, and related circuitry.
- Experience with MATLAB/Simulink or equivalent modeling environments for high-speed interface analysis and verification.
- Experience with formal verification and SVA, including tools such as JasperGold.
- Experience with FPGA-based prototyping, testchip development, post-silicon validation, or ATE.
- Strong understanding of high-speed interface protocols, link training, lane management, equalization, and PHY/PCS architectures.
- Demonstrated ability to lead highly complex technical programs involving multiple engineering disciplines.
Responsibilities
- Lead the architecture and RTL design of complex high-speed interface IP and subsystems, with a primary focus on PCIe and related high-speed serial technologies.
- Provide technical leadership for all current and future-generation high-speed interface architectures, including emerging high-bandwidth serial technologies
- Define and develop PCIe MAC, PCS, link, and subsystem functionality, including high-speed interface protocols, link initialization, equalization, lane management, and related control logic.
- Drive end-to-end technical ownership of high-speed interface designs from architecture and microarchitecture through RTL implementation, verification, synthesis, timing analysis, and silicon validation.
- Develop and integrate high-speed digital interfaces with PHY and analog IP, collaborating closely with PHY designers on interface requirements, calibration, equalization, and system-level performance.
- Lead design activities involving high-speed equalization and signal-processing techniques, including Tx FFE, Rx FFE, CDR, DFE, LMS, and related equalization methodologies.
- Analyze and resolve complex design issues involving CDC, lint, synthesis, STA, formal verification, RTL quality, and subsystem integration.
- Collaborate with verification teams to define verification strategies and drive functional, formal, simulation, FPGA, testchip, and silicon validation activities.
- Serve as a technical interface between digital design, PHY/analog, verification, architecture, software, and product engineering teams.
- Mentor senior and junior engineers and provide technical direction on architecture, RTL design methodology, design reviews, and problem resolution.
- Lead technical design reviews and influence architecture and implementation decisions across multiple engineering teams.
- Drive continuous improvements in high-speed interface design methodologies, verification strategies, and IP reuse.
Benefits
- We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
