H-1B Visa Ic Design Engineer Jobs
IC design engineers work in a specialty occupation that qualifies for H-1B sponsorship, with employers required to file a Labor Condition Application before petitioning USCIS. Semiconductor and fabless chip companies sponsor consistently, and the annual 85,000-slot cap makes timing your job search to the April filing window critical.
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Company:
Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > RFIC Design
General Summary:
We are seeking a highly skilled RF/Analog IC Design Engineer with working knowledge of Machine Learning to join our team in Santa Clara. This role is ideal for candidates with strong hands-on RFIC / analog circuit design expertise who also have practical experience applying ML techniques to engineering problems. The work involves designing and developing complex radio frequency integrated circuits in complex SoC’s and discrete RFIC’s. Perform radio signal path and circuit topology analysis and detailed transistor-level design of highly integrated transceivers and associated blocks for wireless applications, 4G, 5G, WLAN, BT and GPS standards using advanced process technologies. Utilize complex analysis, simulation, engineering, science and mathematical principles to compose ML algorithm structures to solve problems. Debug and assess performance of algorithms in actual application hardware.
This position requires expertise in both RFIC design and ML to be considered. While RF/Analog IC design is the primary focus of this role, the ability to leverage ML for design optimization, modeling, analysis, and automation is essential.
The responsibilities of this role include:
- Working under some supervision and providing some guidance to others.
- Taking responsibility for own work and making decisions with limited impact; impact of decisions is readily apparent; errors made typically only impact timeline (i.e., require additional time to correct).
- Using verbal and written communication skills to convey basic, routine factual information about day-to-day activities to others who are fully knowledgeable in the subject area.
- Working within prescribed budget and resources.
- Having a moderate amount of influence over key organizational decisions (e.g., is consulted by senior leadership to provide input on key decisions).
- Completing most tasks with multiple steps which can be performed in various orders; some planning and prioritization must occur to complete the tasks effectively.
- Exercising creativity to draft original documents, imagery, or work products within established guidelines.
- Using deductive and inductive problem solving; multiple approaches may be taken/necessary to solve the problem; often information is missing or incomplete; intermediate data analysis/interpretation skills may be required.
- May be solicited during strategic planning period.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering with 3+ years of experience with designing RF/Analog circuits for wireless products (e.g., LNA's, PLL's) and 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field and 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field.
- 2+ years of academic or professional experience using two or more of the following software: CADENCE, Virtuoso, ADS.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
RF / Analog IC Design (Primary Focus)
- Define, design, and develop complex RF and analog integrated circuits for highly integrated SoCs and discrete RFICs.
- Perform transistor-level design, signal-path analysis, and circuit topology development for wireless applications (4G, 5G, WLAN, BT, GPS).
- Independently derive circuit-level specifications from system-level requirements.
- Develop and analyze RF architecture and critical building blocks using advanced RFIC design methodologies.
- Run and analyze complex simulations across PVT, mismatch, and stress conditions.
- Collaborate closely with layout engineers on floor planning, layout review, and physical verification.
- Review test plans, analyze silicon/test results, and drive root-cause analysis and fixes.
- Contribute to next-generation RFIC architecture and technology direction discussions.
Machine Learning (Required)
- Apply machine learning techniques to RF/analog design problems such as modeling, prediction, optimization, or design-space exploration.
- Develop or use ML models (e.g., regression models, neural networks, decision trees, autoencoders, or related approaches) for circuit performance prediction or analysis.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate ML-driven insights into RFIC design workflows.
- Analyze datasets generated from simulations, measurements, or silicon to improve design decisions.
- Document ML methodologies and clearly communicate results to RF and system design teams.
Required for this Role
- Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field.
- Strong, proven experience in RF/Analog IC circuit design (this is mandatory).
- Working knowledge of machine learning, demonstrated through practical application to engineering problems.
- Proficiency with RFIC design tools and simulation environments.
- Proficiency in Python and familiarity with common ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, or equivalent).
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills.
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly in both written and verbal form.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience applying ML to circuit design, modeling, optimization, or EDA workflows.
- Exposure to hardware-aware or resource-constrained ML models.
- Experience working with real silicon data and closing the loop between ML predictions and measured results.
- Familiarity with industry trends in ML-assisted circuit design or automation.
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$139,400.00 - $209,200.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Ic Design Engineer
Document your IC design specialization early
Gather transcripts, project portfolios, and any tapeout records that tie your degree directly to your IC design role. USCIS scrutinizes specialty occupation for engineering positions, so a clear degree-to-job match strengthens your petition from day one.
Use OFLC Wage Search before negotiating offers
Look up the prevailing wage for your SOC code and work location before you negotiate. Your employer's LCA must certify at least that wage level, so knowing it in advance prevents offers that can't clear DOL certification.
Target fabless semiconductor companies with E-Verify enrollment
STEM OPT employers must be enrolled in E-Verify, and many fabless chip companies already are. Filtering for E-Verify-enrolled employers early narrows your list to companies equipped to sponsor and extend your authorization through the H-1B transition.
Find H-1B sponsors using Migrate Mate's LCA data
Search IC design engineer roles on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employer H-1B Labor Condition Application filing history by occupation. You can see which semiconductor and EDA companies have sponsored this role before, skipping cold outreach to employers with no sponsorship track record.
Request premium processing if your OPT expires near October
Standard H-1B adjudication can stretch past the October 1 start date. If your OPT end date leaves little buffer, ask your employer to file with premium processing through USCIS so you receive a decision within 15 business days and avoid an unauthorized work gap.
Align your role description to O*NET job zone standards
IC design engineer maps to a high job zone in O*NET, requiring a directly related bachelor's degree or higher. Make sure your offer letter job duties match O*NET task descriptions so your employer's I-129 specialty occupation argument holds up under USCIS review.
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Find Ic Design Engineer JobsIc Design Engineer H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does IC design engineering qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. IC design engineering requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field, which satisfies the specialty occupation definition USCIS applies. Roles covering RTL design, analog layout, or mixed-signal verification all carry a clear degree-to-duty relationship. If your job description includes tasks that generalists without that background could perform, your employer should tighten the duty language before filing.
Which types of employers most commonly sponsor H-1B visas for IC design engineers?
Fabless semiconductor companies, integrated device manufacturers, and EDA software firms are the most active H-1B sponsors for IC design roles. Defense contractors with chip design divisions and large hyperscalers with custom silicon teams also file regularly. Migrate Mate shows LCA filing history by employer and occupation, so you can identify which companies have sponsored IC design engineers specifically rather than relying on general engineering hiring patterns.
Can I switch IC design engineering employers after my H-1B is approved?
Yes, under H-1B portability rules established by AC21. If you've had your H-1B approved for at least 180 days and your new employer files an H-1B transfer petition before your current one expires, you can start the new role as soon as the transfer is received by USCIS. The new employer must file a fresh LCA certifying the prevailing wage for your new work location and role, which matters if you're moving between metro areas with different wage levels.
What happens to my H-1B if my IC design project ends and I'm placed on the bench?
Your employer must continue paying your LCA-certified wage during any nonproductive period caused by the employer's lack of work, not by your own choice. Benching without pay violates the H-1B wage obligation and can trigger a DOL investigation. If a layoff is coming, you have a 60-day grace period after your employment ends to find a new sponsor, change status, or depart the country.
Does a master's degree in electrical engineering improve my H-1B chances as an IC design engineer?
It directly improves your lottery odds. USCIS runs a separate advanced degree exemption drawing for applicants with a U.S. master's or higher before the general cap lottery, giving those candidates two chances at selection rather than one. For IC design roles, a master's in electrical engineering or computer engineering also strengthens the specialty occupation argument because the degree-to-role alignment is unambiguous to adjudicators reviewing mixed-signal or digital design petitions.
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