Digital IC Design Engineer

Digital IC Design Engineer Company: LightXcelerate Inc. Location: Santa Clara, CA Work Arrangement: Hybrid | Full-time About LightXcelerate LightXcelerate is building next-generation optical interconnects to power AI computing. Our technology combines micro-VCSEL arrays, high-speed analog/mixed-signal ICs, and advanced packaging to deliver high-bandwidth, energy-efficient optical connectivity. We are a fast-moving, highly technical team turning ambitious ideas into real silicon and scalable products. About the Role We are looking for an exceptional Digital IC Design Engineer to develop high-performance digital circuits for our micro-VCSEL-based optical interconnects. You will own critical digital blocks from architecture and RTL design through verification, synthesis, timing closure, and tape-out, working closely with our analog, physical design, and systems teams. What You'll Be Doing

• Design digital architectures for optical interconnect ICs, including link control, configuration, monitoring, calibration, and high-speed datapaths.
• Develop synthesizable Verilog/SystemVerilog RTL and implement robust clocking, reset, and control logic.
• Own functional verification, simulation, lint, CDC/RDC checks, and regression testing.
• Perform logic synthesis, equivalence checking, static timing analysis (STA), and timing constraint development.
• Optimize power, performance, and area (PPA), collaborating with physical design engineers to achieve timing closure.
• Integrate digital logic with analog/mixed-signal circuits and support chip-level verification and tape-out.
• Support silicon bring-up, characterization, debugging, and post-silicon validation.

What We Need to See

• MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field with 2+ years of relevant digital IC design experience, or a PhD in a related field.
• At least one successful ASIC tape-out with significant ownership of digital design blocks.
• Strong proficiency in Verilog/SystemVerilog RTL design and functional verification.
• Solid understanding of synchronous digital design, clock and reset architectures, pipelining, and finite-state machines.
• Hands-on experience with synthesis, STA, SDC constraints, CDC analysis, and timing closure.
• Proficiency with industry-standard Synopsys or Cadence digital IC design and verification tools.
• Experience with ASIC implementation flows, PPA optimization, and multi-mode, multi-corner timing analysis.
• Proficiency in Python, Tcl, or similar scripting languages.
• Ability to independently solve challenging problems and deliver results.

Ways to Stand Out From the Crowd

• Proven experience designing and taping out digital ASICs for high-speed transceivers, SerDes, or optical interconnects.
• Strong experience with DSP architectures, fixed-point implementation, or high-speed datapath optimization.
• Experience with link training, synchronization, PRBS, error monitoring, and calibration.
• Hands-on experience integrating digital logic with analog/mixed-signal macros.
• Expertise in physical implementation, timing closure, DFT, or low-power ASIC design.
• Demonstrated success taking complex designs from RTL through tape-out and silicon validation.
• A builder's mindset: ambitious, resourceful, hands-on, and driven to turn ideas into working silicon.

Why Join LightXcelerate?

• Build the future of AI connectivity: Work on optical interconnect technology addressing critical AI infrastructure challenges.
• Own your designs: Take projects from concept to silicon with meaningful technical autonomy.
• Move fast: Join a lean, highly capable engineering team where your contributions directly shape our products.
• Grow with us: Competitive base salary, stock options, and opportunities for technical leadership.

Compensation & Benefits We offer a competitive compensation package consisting of base salary and stock options, providing an opportunity to share in LightXcelerate's long-term success. Base Salary: 120k-170k USD annually. Compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and responsibilities. LightXcelerate is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome talented engineers from all backgrounds who share our passion for innovation and engineering excellence.