Design Technology Co-Optimization (DTCO) Engineer / Circuit Design Engineer

Employment Type: Full time

About the Company

Altera is one of the world's leading providers of programmable solutions. With a renewed focus on agility, software-first, and AI-driven solutions, Altera is shaping the future of computing by providing flexible technology, empowering innovators with scalable products, from high-performance to power- and cost-optimized devices for cloud, network, and edge applications. Join us in our journey to becoming the #1 FPGA provider in the world as we redefine the next era of programmable innovations!

About the Team & Role

The Technology Engineering Group is responsible for selecting and optimizing silicon process and packaging technology as we strategize on Altera’s next generation of products.

As a Design Technology Co-Optimization (DTCO) Engineer / Circuit Design Engineer, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge FPGAs as well as with the most advanced silicon, process technology, and with global leaders in foundry.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Select and optimize silicon process technologies for FPGA products through Design Technology Co-Optimization (DTCO) activities during the technology pathfinding and readiness phases.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define process technologies that maximize Power, Performance, and Area (PPA) entitlement.
• Engage and collaborate with foundries to provide detailed feedback on design rules, libraries, and process design kits (PDKs) to improve the PPA of FPGA products under development.
• Develop and analyze benchmark circuits representing digital, analog, and memory IP to evaluate and guide process technology options.
• Optimize metal stack configurations and power grid strategies to enhance overall design efficiency and reliability.
• Study the PPA entitlement of novel process technologies.
• Partner with physical implementation and design teams to ensure that process technology solutions meet product requirements and enable successful silicon development across all lifecycle stages.
• Support technology readiness by contributing to test-chips.

Salary Range

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor within the US market. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance. $128.9k - $186.6k USD

Qualifications

What We Want to See:

• 5+ years of experience (more than 10+ years of experience is preferred)

Technical Skills:

• Circuit Analysis: The ability to analyze both digital and analog circuits to understand their functionality, performance, and power characteristics.
• DTCO Experience: Hands-on experience with the process of co-optimizing design and technology parameters is highly desirable.
• EDA Tool Familiarity: Experience with industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, such as spice simulators, APR tools, Schematic entry, Timing analysis tools, etc.
• Programming Skills: Proficiency in scripting languages like Python, Perl, TCL, and Shell is often required for automation and flow development.
• Understanding of Semiconductor Device Physics: This includes knowledge of how transistors work and the impact of various physical phenomena on their performance.
• Compact Modeling: Basic understanding of models of devices for use in circuit simulations.
• Design Rules: Familiarity with the rules and guidelines governing the layout of integrated circuits to ensure manufacturability and performance.

Soft Skills:

• Strong Collaboration and Interpersonal Skills: DTCO engineers work closely with various teams, including modeling, process integration, and design, making effective communication and collaboration essential.
• Problem-Solving Skills: The ability to analyze complex problems, identify design and process constraints, and develop effective solutions.
• Attention to Detail: Essential for meticulously...