Rtl Design Engineer

AMD AMD · Semiconductors · San Jose, CA · Engineering

This role is for an RTL Design Engineer at AMD, focusing on designing and developing cutting-edge IPs for next-generation embedded products. The engineer will be responsible for the complete RTL design lifecycle, from micro-architecture specification to production silicon, with a strong emphasis on performance, power, and area (PPA) targets. Key responsibilities include RTL implementation, timing closure, low-power design, and cross-functional collaboration. The role requires extensive experience with ASIC design flows, Verilog RTL coding, and low-power methodologies, with preferred qualifications including familiarity with AI-assisted design tools.

What you'd actually do

  1. Author detailed micro-architecture specifications and own complete Verilog RTL implementation of major IP blocks, ensuring compliance with PPA (Performance, Power, Area) targets, with strong emphasis on power-efficient design and timing requirements.
  2. Drive design from concept through production silicon across all phases: specification, RTL coding, lint/CDC checks, synthesis, low-power intent definition (UPF/CPF), timing analysis, verification, physical design integration, and post-silicon validation.
  3. Develop and maintain timing constraints (SDC), perform static timing analysis (STA) using industry-standard tools (PrimeTime/Tempus), resolve timing violations, and collaborate with physical design to achieve timing and power closure.
  4. Implement advanced low-power techniques such as clock gating, power gating, multi-voltage domains, dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS), and retention strategies; analyze and optimize dynamic and leakage power across design stages.
  5. Define and validate power intent using UPF/CPF; ensure correct implementation of power domains, isolation, level shifters, and retention cells; collaborate with verification teams on power-aware simulations and checks.

Skills

Required

  • Verilog RTL coding
  • timing closure
  • physical design awareness
  • Verilog RTL implementation
  • PPA targets
  • power-efficient design
  • timing requirements
  • ASIC development lifecycle
  • specification
  • RTL coding
  • lint/CDC checks
  • synthesis
  • low-power intent definition (UPF/CPF)
  • timing analysis
  • verification
  • physical design integration
  • post-silicon validation
  • timing constraints (SDC)
  • static timing analysis (STA)
  • PrimeTime/Tempus
  • timing violations
  • low-power techniques
  • clock gating
  • power gating
  • multi-voltage domains
  • DVFS
  • retention strategies
  • dynamic and leakage power analysis
  • power intent (UPF/CPF)
  • power domains
  • isolation
  • level shifters
  • retention cells
  • power-aware simulations
  • functional coverage
  • power-aware coverage
  • design-for-test (DFT)
  • design-for-debug (DFD)
  • RTL quality
  • low-power signoff reviews
  • Python/Perl/Tcl scripts
  • power analysis flows
  • design quality checks
  • reporting
  • architecture
  • verification
  • physical design
  • CAD
  • post-silicon teams
  • performance and power
  • 2+ production ASIC tape-outs
  • synthesizable RTL constructs
  • coding best practices
  • complete ASIC design flow: RTL → Synthesis → STA → Physical Design → Tape-out
  • low-power design methodologies and implementation
  • power intent formats such as UPF or CPF
  • power-aware verification flows
  • writing and debugging SDC timing constraints
  • multi-cycle paths
  • false paths
  • clock domain crossing constraints
  • integrating complex IP blocks into SOC designs
  • multiple power domains
  • on-chip interconnect protocols (AMBA AXI/AHB/APB)

Nice to have

  • ARM architecture
  • AMBA protocol specifications
  • PCIe or CXL transaction layer protocols
  • advanced power analysis tools (PrimePower, Voltus, RedHawk or equivalent)
  • power integrity analysis
  • IR drop
  • electromigration (EM)
  • Shell scripting
  • formal verification tools
  • equivalence checking
  • property verification
  • AI-assisted design tools
  • modern EDA technologies
  • mentoring junior engineers
  • leading design teams
  • technical writing
  • design specifications
  • documentation
  • communication and collaboration skills
  • cross-functional environments
  • SystemVerilog
  • Lint & Design Quality
  • SOC Integration
  • Design for Test (DFT)
  • EDA Tools (Synopsys/Cadence)
  • Technical Leadership
  • Problem Solving

What the JD emphasized

  • 2+ production ASIC tape-outs
  • Expert-level Verilog RTL coding skills
  • complete ASIC design flow
  • low-power design methodologies and implementation
  • power intent formats such as UPF or CPF
  • writing and debugging SDC timing constraints
  • integrating complex IP blocks into SOC designs
  • on-chip interconnect protocols (AMBA AXI/AHB/APB)