Sr. Staff Engineer, ASIC Design

San Jose, CA

About the role

Position: Sr. Staff Engineer, ASIC Design Location: San Jose, CA Job Id: 541 # of Openings: 0 Sr. Staff Engineer, ASIC Design Location: San Jose (on-site) Ayar Labs is shattering AI data bottlenecks by moving data at the speed of light. As pioneers of co-packaged optics (CPO), we are using light instead of electricity to move data faster, further, and with a fraction of the energy needed to fuel the explosive growth of AI models. Backed by industry giants like NVIDIA, AMD and Intel and manufactured in partnership with the world’s leading semiconductor ecosystem, Ayar Labs’ co-packaged optics solution is key to unleashing next-generation AI scale-up architectures. The ASIC Sr. Staff Engineer is responsible for the design, bring-up, and debug of complex digital subsystems within an electro-optical digital SoC. You will work in a dynamic startup environment as part of a small IC design team, with each team member expected to contribute across a broad range of tasks while gaining new skill sets to grow with the company. The ideal candidate is a hands-on self-starter who can craft specifications based on input from colleagues, customers, and industry and who can effectively manage his or her own time to take projects to completion with limited supervision and guidance. KEY

RESPONSIBILITIES: Develop detailed digital algorithm specifications in collaboration with analog, photonics, and firmware engineers Develop and optimize RTL in verilog for use in complex electro-optical ASICs Develop models and testbenches for digital and mixed-signal blocks Create clear documentation of their designs to enable backend ASIC engineers to perform physical implementation (clocks and timing constraints, floorplan guidance, testability) and collaborate to ensure timing signoff Bringup, evaluation, and debug of in-house custom silicon using python scripting, firmware, and control systems Contribute to automated design methodologies and flows for ASIC digital design Hands-on work with high-speed interconnects and optical systems Required

Qualifications: BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields 5+ years of work or academic experience in ASIC design History of assuming responsibility for a variety of technical tasks and completing projects independently Mastery of Verilog and SystemVerilog for both RTL design and verification Proficient in ASIC verification (XCelium, VCS, Questa) tools Proficient in low-level programming languages (C, C++) Proficient in Python Working knowledge of digital timing constraints and ASIC tool flows Experience working on digital designs with multiple clock domains and clock dividers Experience with SOC interconnect fabrics (AMBA AXI/AHB/APB) Preferred

Qualifications: Proficient in ASIC synthesis (Genus, Design Compiler) tools Proficient in writing timing constraints and deep understanding of timing analysis Working knowledge integrating custom blocks in a digital-top flow (LEF, lib, etc.) Performed silicon bring-up, debug, and evaluation Working knowledge of FPGAs and/or microcontroller platforms Working knowledge of the Cadence Virtuoso design environment, schematic entry, layout, and simulation Experience with DFT methodologies and flows such as scan insertion, BIST, ATPG, etc Knowledge of high-speed SerDes or SerDes components Some knowledge of optics and control systems Salary Range: $180,000 - $223,000 NOTE TO RECRUITERS: Principals only. We are not accepting resumes from recruiters for this position. Remuneration for recruiting activities is only applicable subject to a signed and executed agreement between the parties. Please don’t send candidates to Ayar Labs, and do not contact our managers. Ayar Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is strongly committed to all policies which will afford equal opportunity employment to all qualified persons without regard to age, sex, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. It is the policy of Ayar Labs to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Veterans are more than welcome and encouraged to apply. Apply for this Position Go back to the job list

About Ayar Labs

Ayar Labs uses silicon photonics and microring-based architectures to increase bandwidth, reduce latency, and improve power efficiency in accelerator and XPU environments. The company’s TeraPHY optical engine integrates UCIe-based optical chiplets to enable high-throughput, low-power data transfer across extended distances within and between compute systems. Its SuperNova external light source provides multi-wavelength laser output designed for scalable, standards-based deployment. Ayar Labs supports disaggregated memory and scale-up architectures, enabling AI hardware systems to operate with higher interconnect density and accelerator utilization.

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Job details

Salary

$180,000 - $223,000

Location

San Jose, CA

Company

NameAyar Labs
IndustryAI Infrastructure
Team Size3

Funding

Total raised

$870M

Last stage

Series E

Investors

NNeuberger Berman
AAdvent International
LLight Street Capital
PPlayground Global
Insight Partners

Founders

Mark Wade

Mark Wade

Co-Founder & CEO

LinkedIn
Chen Sun

Chen Sun

Co-Founder & VP of Silicon Engineering / Chief Scientist

LinkedIn
Vladimir Stojanovic

Vladimir Stojanovic

Co-Founder & CTO

LinkedIn

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01

Confirm the fit

A few questions to make sure this role is the right shape for you. Two minutes.

02

I pitch you to the company

I write the intro, send it to the founder, and handle the back-and-forth.

03

A meeting lands on your calendar

If they’re a yes, I book the chat. You show up — that’s the whole job-hunt.