RTL Design Engineer Jobs in California
RTL Design Engineer jobs in California are concentrated in semiconductor design, consumer electronics, and data center silicon development, with the state representing one of the most active markets in the world for this discipline. The heaviest hiring is in Silicon Valley, San Diego, and the greater Los Angeles area, where established companies like Qualcomm, Apple, and Intel have deep engineering footprints. High-frequency digital design, verification methodologies such as UVM, and low-power architecture are the sub-areas driving the most consistent demand, from entry-level RTL positions through principal and staff-level roles. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 39+ RTL Design Engineer jobs
SambaNova is a leader in next-generation AI infrastructure, delivering a full-stack inference platform for customers worldwide. At the core of SambaNova's technology is the RDU (Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit) — a chip built on a dataflow architecture rather than the traditional GPU model. Its decode performance is especially strong for agentic workloads like multi-turn agents, code generation, and long-running applications. RDUs are packaged into SambaRack, rack-scale hardware that lets customers deploy state-of-the-art models with better performance, greater energy efficiency, and faster time to value.
About the role
SambaNova is seeking a Principal Engineer to own the design, integration, and implementation of high-speed IO and memory subsystems within the DataScale® platform. This role is central to delivering reliable, high-performance AI systems at scale.
You will drive these subsystems across the full product lifecycle, from architecture exploration and microarchitecture definition through RTL and integration of internal and third-party IP (PCIe, Ethernet , CXL, HBM, die-to-die). This is a hands-on role for an engineer with deep protocol and RTL expertise, who can operate in ambiguity and execute with high ownership.
Responsibilities
- Engage in architecture exploration with system and chip architects to define IO and memory subsystem direction
- Drive feasibility studies and design trade-off analysis to meet PPA constraints
- Own microarchitecture definition and specification for IO and memory subsystems
- Deliver synthesizable, high-quality SystemVerilog RTL for assigned blocks against functionality, performance, and power targets
- Run the front-end design flow end to end, covering lint, CDC/RDC, synthesis, timing constraint development, and design-for-test readiness
- Partner with STA and physical design teams on timing closure, floorplanning, congestion analysis, and optimization at advanced process nodes
- Work closely with verification and emulation teams to ensure design validation coverage and quality
- Collaborate with software and firmware teams to ensure optimal end-to-end solutions
- Drive cross-functional triage of complex functional and performance issues to root cause and closure
- Apply engineering best practices including code review, testing, and refactoring
- Improve design and integration methodology, reuse, and flow scalability
Required Qualifications
- MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
- 7+ years of experience in ASIC design
- Experience in logic design, microarchitecture, specification, SystemVerilog RTL design, and functional verification
- Experience with power, performance, or area optimization
- Experience with two or more on-chip or chip-to-chip protocols and interfaces such as AXI, APB, PCIe, Ethernet, or UCIe
- Experience with memory subsystems such as HBM and CXL
- Ability to evaluate and select vendor IP, and to read and distill complex IP and protocol specifications into actionable design requirements
- Clear and effective communicator with a proactive, collaborative approach to problem-solving
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience taking one or more ASIC products from concept to silicon
- Familiarity with emerging scale-up protocols (ESUN, SUE, UAL) and scale-out protocols such as Ultra Ethernet
- Experience designing on-chip interconnect and traffic-management logic, including NoC fabrics, switches, arbiters, and quality-of-service or congestion control mechanisms
- Knowledge of machine learning and hardware accelerator architectures
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at SambaNova Systems, you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified.
EEO Policy
SambaNova Systems is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Benefits Summary for US-Based, Full-Time Employment Positions
SambaNova offers a competitive total rewards package, including the base salary, plus equity and benefits. We cover 95% premium coverage for employee medical insurance, and 77% premium coverage for dependents and offer a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution. We also offer Dental, Vision, Short/Long term Disability, Basic Life, Voluntary Life, and AD&D insurance plans in addition to Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options like Health Care, Limited Purpose, and Dependent Care. Our library of well-being benefits available to you and your dependents includes a full subscription to Headspace, Gympass+ membership with access to physical gyms, One Medical membership, counseling services with an Employee Assistance Program, and much more.
See All 39 RTL Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find RTL Design Engineer JobsRTL Design Engineer Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
RTL Design Engineer Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Apple13
- AMD6
- Tesla3
- Qualcomm3
- Google2
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Manufacturing
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in RTL design engineer jobs across California.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering required
- Proficiency in Verilog or SystemVerilog for RTL coding and verification
- Experience with synthesis, timing closure, and static timing analysis tools
- Familiarity with UVM or similar constrained-random verification methodologies
- Background in low-power design techniques such as clock gating and power domains
- Exposure to ASIC or SoC design flows from specification through tape-out
RTL Design Engineer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a rtl design engineer in California?
Most rtl design engineers in California enter the field with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering, and many roles at mid-to-senior level expect a master's degree. California does not require a state-issued license to practice RTL design, so the path centers on academic credentials and demonstrated tool proficiency. Building a portfolio through capstone projects, open-source chip design contributions, or internships at California semiconductor firms gives candidates a strong competitive edge.
Which companies hire rtl design engineers in California?
California rtl design engineer roles are posted by Apple, AMD, and Tesla and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's dense concentration of semiconductor headquarters and fabless chip companies means hiring activity is spread across Silicon Valley, San Diego, and Los Angeles rather than anchored to a single employer.
Which California cities have the most rtl design engineer jobs?
San Jose, San Diego, and Sunnyvale account for the largest share of rtl design engineer openings in California. Silicon Valley dominates because of the density of fabless semiconductor companies and major tech hardware divisions headquartered there, while San Diego's strength in mobile and wireless chip design and the Los Angeles area's growing data center silicon activity drive demand in those metros.
Are there remote rtl design engineer jobs in California?
Yes, but they're less common than in purely software-focused disciplines because RTL design work often involves access to licensed EDA tools, proprietary simulation environments, and lab hardware tied to a specific office. About 33% of rtl design engineer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements most frequently offered for verification-heavy or architecture-planning portions of the role rather than hands-on physical design.
How can I get hired as a rtl design engineer in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a formal internship or new-graduate program at a California semiconductor company, where firms like Qualcomm, Broadcom, and Apple run structured rotations specifically for candidates without professional RTL experience. Adjacent roles such as FPGA design engineer, embedded firmware engineer, or digital verification engineer are common lateral entry points at California employers. A completed chip design project, even a small open-source RISC-V core, signals practical readiness and is weighted heavily in California hiring at the entry level.
Where can I find and apply to rtl design engineer jobs in California?
You can find and apply to rtl design engineer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across semiconductor, consumer electronics, and data center silicon employers. Search the listings to identify roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 39 RTL Design Engineer Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find RTL Design Engineer Jobs