Principal Digital Design Engineer

About the role

PowerLattice is a well-funded semiconductor start-up company backed by well-known large Silicon Valley VCs. The company is working on the industry's groundbreaking chiplet solution for a fundamental shift in how high-performance chips get powered, paving the way for the next generation of AI and advanced computing. We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on Principal Digital Design Engineer to drive the microarchitecture, design, and implementation of complex digital systems and SoC components. This role combines deep technical contribution with team leadership, requiring active involvement from microarchitecture definition through RTL development and into back-end implementation and silicon bring-up.

Responsibilities

• Architecture & Hands-On Design
• Define microarchitecture for complex digital blocks and subsystems
• Actively contribute to RTL development for key components
• Drive design tradeoffs across performance, power, area (PPA), and testability
• RTL Development & Integration
• Write, review, and integrate high-quality RTL
• Lead block- and chip-level integration, resolving interface and system issues
• Ensure designs are clean for lint, CDC/RDC, and synthesis
• Back-End & Implementation Ownership
• Ensure RTL is optimized for synthesis, timing, and physical design
• Work on scan insertion, test architecture, and coverage closure
• Perform, review and debug logic equivalence checking (LEC) results between RTL and netlists
• Define and validate timing constraints (SDC) and complete timing closure
• Drive and implement timing and functional ECOs as needed
• Design Quality & Signoff
• Drive signoff readiness including lint, CDC/RDC, synthesis, LEC, and timing checks
• Ensure designs meet functional, timing, power, and test requirements
• Support silicon bring-up, debug, and root-cause analysis
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with verification, physical design, DFT, and firmware teams
• Align design decisions with verification plans and implementation
• Constraints
• Act as the technical bridge between front-end and back-end teams

Requirements

• This is a Hybrid role requiring 3 days a week onsite at our HQ's in Vancouver, WA (Greater Portland Area) or Chandler, AZ. While we are primarily seeking candidates in HQ-Vancouer and Chandler, remote flexibility may be considered for exceptional candidates in Silicon Valley, CA.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of experience in digital design with significant hands-on RTL development
• Proven track record of delivering complex SoC or subsystem designs to tapeout
• Strong expertise in:
• RTL design and microarchitecture
• SoC integration and standard interfaces
• Hands-on experience with back-end flows, including:
• Scan insertion and DFT (scan, MBIST, test coverage)
• Logic equivalence checking (LEC)
• Static timing analysis (STA) and timing closure
• Timing constraint development and debug (SDC)
• Solid understanding of:
• Clocking, resets, CDC/RDC, and low-power design
• Synthesis and physical design implications
• Experience with industry-standard EDA tools (Synopsys, Cadence)
• Experience with low-power methodologies (UPF/CPF)
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills
• Familiarity with advanced technology nodes and implementation challenges
• Experience with formal verification techniques
• Experience with silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug
• Compensation & Benefits
• Anticipated annual base salary for Member of Technical Staff: $200,000 - $250,000
• Stock option grant
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and 401(k)

Benefits

Additional Information

Hybrid requiring 3 days a week onsite in the office Reports To: Head of Engineering

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