Design Lead Jobs in San Jose, CA
Design Lead jobs in San Jose are concentrated in North San Jose, Downtown, and the Santana Row corridor, with strong demand across enterprise software, semiconductor, and consumer electronics sectors. Employers hiring right now include archer, AMD, and Cisco. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Role Overview
The Lead Analog IC Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing analog and mixed-signal circuits- from initial concept and specification through final verification- to ensure conformance with customer requirements.
Required Qualifications
- At least three years of experience designing and developing CMOS SerDes or high-speed I/O integrated circuits.
- Design experience with most of the following SerDes circuit blocks: Transmitters and receivers, serializers and deserializers, phase interpolators, low-jitter PLLs, high-speed clock-distribution circuits, bias circuits, and voltage regulators.
- Good understanding of jitter and signal-equalization techniques.
- Proficiency with CAD tools for circuit simulation, layout, and physical verification.
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in electrical engineering.
- Strong problem-solving skills and analog design aptitude.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Working knowledge of common SerDes standards and their electrical requirements.
- Experience with Cadence design tools and laboratory testing.
- Design experience at data rates above 10 Gbps and in process technologies below 28 nm.
The annual salary range for California is $119,000 to $221,000. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.
We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.
At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.
Role Overview
The Lead Analog IC Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing analog and mixed-signal circuits- from initial concept and specification through final verification- to ensure conformance with customer requirements.
Required Qualifications
- At least three years of experience designing and developing CMOS SerDes or high-speed I/O integrated circuits.
- Design experience with most of the following SerDes circuit blocks: Transmitters and receivers, serializers and deserializers, phase interpolators, low-jitter PLLs, high-speed clock-distribution circuits, bias circuits, and voltage regulators.
- Good understanding of jitter and signal-equalization techniques.
- Proficiency with CAD tools for circuit simulation, layout, and physical verification.
- Master’s degree or Ph.D. in electrical engineering.
- Strong problem-solving skills and analog design aptitude.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Working knowledge of common SerDes standards and their electrical requirements.
- Experience with Cadence design tools and laboratory testing.
- Design experience at data rates above 10 Gbps and in process technologies below 28 nm.
The annual salary range for California is $119,000 to $221,000. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more.
We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.
See All 114+ Design Lead Jobs in San Jose
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Find Design Lead JobsDesign Lead Job Market in San Jose
Who's Hiring
- archer29
- AMD14
- Cisco7
- Google7
- LUMILENS7
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
Design Lead Jobs in San Jose: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a design lead job in San Jose?
The strongest path into a design lead role in San Jose runs through the city's enterprise software and hardware companies, where cross-functional product teams run large enough to need a dedicated design lead. Candidates who can show systems-level thinking, experience managing junior designers, and familiarity with hardware or platform constraints stand out in San Jose's market. Targeting North San Jose's R&D campuses and Downtown's growing startup scene gives you the widest range of openings.
Which companies hire design leads in San Jose?
Employers hiring design leads in San Jose right now include archer, AMD, and Cisco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. San Jose's hiring mix skews toward established technology firms and semiconductor companies, alongside a smaller but active layer of enterprise SaaS and consumer electronics startups in and around the Downtown and Santana Row areas.
Are there remote design lead jobs in San Jose?
Yes, though remote availability varies by specialization. About 16% of design lead openings tied to San Jose are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with hybrid arrangements being more common than fully remote. Roles focused on UX strategy and digital product design tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions tied to hardware development or physical product design generally require on-site presence at San Jose facilities.
How can I get a design lead job in San Jose with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Jose is moving laterally from a senior individual contributor role at one of the city's mid-size software or consumer electronics companies, where design teams are large enough to promote from within. Targeting associate design lead or design manager titles at San Jose's enterprise SaaS firms gives you structured mentorship and defined promotion tracks. A portfolio showing end-to-end ownership of at least one product, even from a personal or freelance project, consistently opens doors locally.
Which industries hire the most design leads in San Jose?
The sectors hiring the most design leads in San Jose are Consulting & Professional Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. San Jose's role as the center of Silicon Valley means these sectors maintain large in-house design organizations that need lead-level talent to manage growing teams and coordinate across engineering and product functions.
Related Jobs in California
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