Staff Digital Design Engineer

Efficient is developing the world’s most energy-efficient general-purpose computer processor. Efficient’s patented technology uses 100x less energy than state of the art commercially available ultra-low-power processors and is programmable using standard high-level programming languages and AI/ML frameworks. This level of efficiency makes perpetual, pervasive intelligence possible: run AI/ML continuously on a AA battery for 5-10 years. Our platform’s unprecedented level of efficiency enables IoT devices to intelligently capture and curate first-party data to drive the next major computing revolution

As a Staff Digital Design Engineer, you will participate in the RTL development, integration, simulation, debug, and silicon implementation of best-in-class energy-efficient processors. You will regularly work with the verification, physical design, compiler development, test and validation, and emulation teams.  You will be responsible for understanding high-level specifications for Efficient’s chips, and will participate in and execute all steps of a robust IC Design flow.

Key Responsibilities

• Front-end Verilog / System Verilog design and integration. Design, document, and implement large functional blocks of design while adhering to the design requirements. Integrate IPs developed in-house and procured from external vendors
• Develop a deep understanding of Efficient’s ultra-efficient compute architecture, and make improvements to it using relevant industry experience.
• Develop and maintain unit-level test cases and debug top-level RTL and netlist simulations
• Work with the verification team to review verification plans, debug test case failures, and analyze and review coverage statistics. Assist the verification team with exclusions to meet a 100% coverage goal
• Develop module-level and top-level synthesis constraints. Run and review synthesis to check the correctness of constraints. Work with the physical design team to identify and resolve timing issues. 
• Drive best practices in clock/reset-domain (CDC/RDC) verification and linting, building automated checks and reusable methodologies that raise design quality across teams
• Define and implement an energy-efficient architecture, partitioning the design into multiple power domains. Own power-domain and sequencing verification by building, automating, and maintaining checks with industry-standard tools and scripts.
• Estimate power consumption of digital circuits in specific modes and scenarios by using simulation and other industry-standard tools.
• Be a role model for junior engineers. Mentor and coach junior engineers on design concepts and on the adoption of new tools and methodologies.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in front-end digital design and ASIC development across multiple product cycles.
• Strong understanding of RTL-to-Netlist implementation, DFT concepts, constraint development, synthesis, and static timing analysis.
• Expertise in running and debugging RTL and gate-level simulations.
• Proficiency with power-domain partitioning, UPF, and power-aware simulation/debug.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting reports from and providing waivers for CDC, RDC, and lint checks using industry-standard tools.
• Knowledge of widely used industry interfaces (e.g., I2C, SPI, I2S, UART, MIPI, HDMI, LVDS, USB, PCIe).
• Proficiency with modern development infrastructure: CI pipelines, Git/GitHub workflows, and AI-assisted design/verification tools.
• Strong familiarity with engineering productivity tools such as Jira (task/sprint tracking) and Confluence (documentation and knowledge sharing).
• Excellent teamwork skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, multitasking environment.

Preferred:

Expertise in one or more of the following areas is a strong plus:

• Processor architectures
• Low-power design techniques
• Analog design and mixed-signal integration
• AMS and real-number modeling
• FPGA design
• Hardware emulation and acceleration platforms

We offer a competitive salary for this role, generally ranging from $180,000 to $220,000, along with meaningful equity and comprehensive benefits. The final compensation package will be based on your experience and location, with some flexibility to ensure we align with the right candidate.

Why Join Efficient?

Efficient offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including 401K match, company-paid benefits, equity program, paid parental leave, and flexibility. We are committed to personal and professional development and strive to grow together as people and as a company.