Senior ASIC Engineer​/Technical Lead

In the Innovation department we are seeking a highly experienced Senior ASIC Engineer / Technical Lead to drive the architecture, design, and implementation of advanced ASIC and SoC developments, with a strong focus on RISC‑V-based systems, high‑performance digital design, and complex mixed research–industry environments.

You will play a key role in leading end‑to‑end ASIC developments, from architectural definition and RTL design through synthesis, physical implementation, silicon validation, and FPGA‑based prototyping. The role combines hands‑on technical leadership with acting as a technical interface with public research centers and universities, ensuring smooth collaboration and high‑quality outcomes in externally contracted hardware developments.

• Lead and contribute to full ASIC development flows, from system and RTL design to GDSII sign‑off.
• Define and validate digital architectures, including RISC‑V SoCs and domain‑specific accelerators.
• Drive technical decisions related to RTL design, verification strategies, synthesis, P&R, and sign‑off.
• Design, implement, and maintain FPGA‑based prototypes to validate architectures, subsystems, and system‑level functionality ahead of tape‑out.
• Use FPGA prototyping as a vehicle for early software bring‑up, performance evaluation, and risk reduction.
• Interface with foundries, EDA vendors, and external industrial partners during design, fabrication, and validation phases.
• Act as primary technical point of contact for hardware design and ASIC/SoC development contracts with public research centers and universities.
• Coordinate, supervise, and technically validate externally contracted hardware design activities, ensuring alignment with internal architectures, schedules, and quality requirements.
• Facilitate effective collaboration and technology transfer between internal engineering teams and public research institutions.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior engineers and project teams.
• Contribute to European collaborative R&D projects, representing the company in technical discussions with research institutes, universities, and industrial partners.
• Support technology scouting and evaluation of new process nodes, tools, and design methodologies.

• Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in ASIC and SoC development within microelectronics environments.
• Proven experience covering the complete ASIC flow: RTL, synthesis, place & route, verification, and sign‑off.
• Hands‑on experience with FPGA prototyping, including architecture validation and system‑level bring‑up (Xilinx, Intel/Altera or equivalent).
• Solid background in RISC‑V architectures and complex SoC integration.
• Deep understanding of EDA tools and ASIC/FPGA design methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in collaborative R&D environments involving external stakeholders such as research institutes and universities.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to act as a technical interface between industrial and academic teams.
• Fluent in English;
  Spanish and/or Catalan are a plus.

• Prior professional experience in public research centers or universities (e.g. CSIC, national laboratories, or equivalent European research institutions).
• Experience in medical electronics, imaging systems, or advanced detector readout electronics.
• Previous involvement in EU-funded collaborative R&D projects (Horizon Europe, Chips JU, IPCEI, etc.).
• Experience across multiple technology nodes (e.g. GF22, TSMC
  65/130, XFAB
  180, AMS).

• Join a highly innovative microelectronics company working at the forefront of RISC‑V and advanced SoC technologies.
• Opportunity to play a key technical leadership role bridging industry and public research.
• Collaboration with top‑tier research institutions and industrial partners across Europe.
• Flexible working conditions and hybrid work environment.
• Competitive remuneration aligned with seniority and expertise.
• Position based in Barcelona.

We are looking for outstanding people willing to join our mission to change this industry and help to build a better world.

If you feel identified with Openchip, please contact us.

At Openchip & Software Technologies S.L., we believe a diverse and inclusive team is the key to groundbreaking ideas. We foster a work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential – regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.