RTL Design Engineer (15+ years)

A "RTL Design Engineer" with 15+ years of experience is a highly experienced professional in the field of digital design within the semiconductor industry. The job description for this role typically includes the following responsibilities and qualifications:

Responsibilities:

1. RTL Design: Design and implement Register Transfer Level (RTL) code for complex digital circuits and systems, including microprocessors, controllers, interfaces, and custom logic blocks.
2. Architecture Exploration: Collaborate with architects and system engineers to define and refine RTL architecture, including block partitioning, interface definitions, and data paths.
3. Coding and Synthesis: Write RTL code using hardware description languages such as Verilog or VHDL, and perform synthesis and optimization using synthesis tools like Synopsys Design Compiler or Cadence Genus.
4. Timing Closure: Work on timing closure tasks, including constraint development, clock domain crossing (CDC) analysis, and optimization for performance, power, and area (PPA) targets.
5. Verification Support: Work closely with verification engineers to develop and debug testbenches, perform RTL simulations, and ensure functional correctness of the design.
6. IP Integration: Integrate and validate third-party intellectual property (IP) blocks into the overall RTL design, ensuring compatibility, functionality, and performance requirements are met.
7. Documentation: Create and maintain design documentation, including RTL specifications, design constraints, timing reports, and design reviews.
8. Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including verification, physical design, firmware, and software teams, to ensure successful tapeout and product integration.

Qualifications:

1. Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
2. Experience: 15+ years of experience in RTL design for ASIC or FPGA projects, with a strong understanding of digital design concepts, methodologies, and best practices.
3. RTL Languages: Proficiency in hardware description languages such as Verilog, VHDL, or SystemVerilog, with hands-on experience in RTL coding and design synthesis.
4. Synthesis Tools: Experience with synthesis tools such as Synopsys Design Compiler, Cadence Genus, or Xilinx Vivado, and familiarity with optimization techniques for PPA targets.
5. Timing Closure: Knowledge of timing constraints, clock domain crossing issues, static timing analysis (STA), and timing closure methodologies to meet design timing requirements.
6. Verification Skills: Understanding of verification methodologies, testbench development, RTL simulation, and debug techniques to ensure functional correctness and design robustness.
7. IP Integration: Experience in integrating and verifying third-party IP blocks, resolving integration issues, and ensuring IP compatibility and functionality within the RTL design.
8. Communication and Teamwork: Excellent communication, collaboration, and teamwork skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams, contribute to design reviews, and drive design closure.

Overall, a RTL Design Engineer with 15+ years of experience plays a crucial role in the development of complex digital circuits and systems, contributing to the success of ASIC or FPGA projects by delivering high-quality, efficient, and reliable RTL designs.