Silicon (IC) Design Architect - Advanced Semiconductor Technology in Palo Alto

This is a senior technical leadership opportunity for an accomplished IC architect with deep expertise in analog, mixed-signal, high-voltage, power management, and digital semiconductor design.

The successful candidate will work closely with systems, circuit design, packaging, and validation engineering teams to define silicon architectures, drive chip-level integration, and deliver first-pass silicon success.

This position offers significant technical ownership, the opportunity to build and lead a silicon engineering team, and meaningful equity in an early-stage technology company.

What You’ll Do

• Lead chip-level architecture and integration for advanced mixed-signal ASICs, high-voltage drivers, analog front ends, and power management ICs.
• Translate system-level requirements into silicon architectures, detailed block specifications, and design requirements.
• Evaluate and select semiconductor process technologies, including standard CMOS, BCD, and high-voltage CMOS.
• Define custom silicon versus licensed IP and commercially available component strategies.
• Own die-level floorplanning, pad rings, bump maps, and chip-to-chip interfaces.
• Collaborate with advanced packaging teams on multi-die integration, interconnects, and package-level design constraints.
• Develop high-voltage isolation, ESD protection, noise partitioning, and power integrity strategies.
• Lead top-level chip integration, including power distribution, clocking, reset, analog/digital interfaces, and timing.
• Define design-for-test (DFT), silicon validation, and debugging strategies.
• Drive technical design reviews, tapeout readiness, and final design sign-off.
• Work with silicon validation, test, and firmware teams on bring-up, characterization, and troubleshooting.
• Provide technical leadership to internal engineering teams and external semiconductor design partners.
• Help establish scalable silicon design methodologies and engineering best practices.

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, or a closely related field.
• 7+ years of semiconductor IC design experience, including technical leadership of complex mixed-signal ASIC or SoC development.
• Demonstrated ownership of at least one mixed-signal IC or SoC from initial architecture and specification through tapeout and production.
• Strong experience with chip-level architecture, top-level integration, floorplanning, and pad-ring design.
• Deep understanding of analog, mixed-signal, and digital IC design methodologies and trade-offs.
• Experience with high-voltage circuits, power management, or complex analog interfaces.
• Knowledge of design-for-test, silicon verification, bring-up, and post-silicon debugging.
• Experience collaborating with semiconductor packaging and physical design teams.
• Strong technical problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to resolve complex engineering challenges.
• Excellent communication, cross-functional collaboration, and technical leadership capabilities.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, highly innovative startup environment., Candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply:
• Mixed-signal ASIC and SoC architecture
• Analog front-end (AFE) design
• High-voltage CMOS and BCD process technologies
• Power management ICs (PMIC)
• Memory controllers, nonvolatile memory, and integrated high-voltage drivers
• Multi-die, chiplet, and system-in-package architectures
• Advanced 2.5D and 3D semiconductor integration
• Die-to-die interfaces, including UCIe
• Custom silicon development and IP integration
• High-performance computing and advanced semiconductor systems
• Silicon validation, characterization, and first-silicon bring-up
• Leading multidisciplinary silicon design teams
• Experience developing semiconductor products in early-stage or rapidly growing technology companies

• Join a well-funded, stealth-mode semiconductor technology company backed by top-tier investors.
• Help define the architecture of a next- semiconductor platform.
• Take ownership of custom silicon development from initial concept through tapeout and validation.
• Work alongside highly accomplished engineers, scientists, and technology innovators.
• Influence critical architectural decisions and future product development.
• Play a key role in building and growing a world-class silicon engineering organization.
• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful early-stage equity.
• Opportunity for significant technical impact and long-term career growth.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and seniority, meaningful equity participation, comprehensive health benefits, paid time off, and additional benefits.