Principal Silicon Design Engineer

About the Role

Altera is seeking a Principal High-Speed Interface / Silicon Design Engineer to lead the architecture, design, integration, and verification of advanced high-speed interface IP for next-generation FPGA devices. In this role, you will serve as a senior technical authority for high-speed digital interfaces and silicon design, working across architecture, RTL design, verification, PHY/PCS integration, and system-level implementation. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in PCI Express and other high-speed serial interfaces, with hands-on experience developing complex RTL and silicon IP from architecture through implementation and validation.

Experience with PCIe, PHY/PCS, MIPI/MPHY, HDMI, USB/Display Port, high-speed equalization, and PAM4 technologies is highly valued. This role will partner closely with architecture, analog/PHY, verification, FPGA, software, and system teams to deliver robust, high-performance interface solutions for Altera's next-generation FPGA platforms.

• Lead the architecture and RTL design of complex high-speed interface IP and subsystems, with a primary focus on PCIe and related high-speed serial technologies.
• Provide technical leadership for all current and future-generation high-speed interface architectures, including emerging high-bandwidth serial technologies.
• Define and develop PCIe MAC, PCS, link, and subsystem functionality, including high-speed interface protocols, link initialization, equalization, lane management, and related control logic.
• Drive end-to-end technical ownership of high-speed interface designs from architecture and microarchitecture through RTL implementation, verification, synthesis, timing analysis, and silicon validation.
• Develop and integrate high-speed digital interfaces with PHY and analog IP, collaborating closely with PHY designers on interface requirements, calibration, equalization, and system-level performance.
• Lead design activities involving high-speed equalization and signal-processing techniques, including Tx FFE, Rx FFE, CDR, DFE, LMS, and related equalization methodologies.
• Analyze and resolve complex design issues involving CDC, lint, synthesis, STA, formal verification, RTL quality, and subsystem integration.
• Collaborate with verification teams to define verification strategies and drive functional, formal, simulation, FPGA, testchip, and silicon validation activities.
• Serve as a technical interface between digital design, PHY/analog, verification, architecture, software, and product engineering teams.
• Mentor senior and junior engineers and provide technical direction on architecture, RTL design methodology, design reviews, and problem resolution.
• Lead technical design reviews and influence architecture and implementation decisions across multiple engineering teams.
• Drive continuous improvements in high-speed interface design methodologies, verification strategies, and IP reuse.

The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. 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.

$209,500 - $303,250 USD

We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in ASIC, SoC, FPGA, silicon, or digital IC design.
• 8+ years of experience designing and developing high-speed interface IP or digital subsystems, including hands-on RTL development using Verilog and/or System Verilog.
• 5+ years of experience with PCI Express, PCIe PHY/PCS, MAC, Link, or related high-speed serial interface technologies.
• 3+ years of experience architecting or leading complex silicon IP or subsystem designs through multiple stages of the development lifecycle.
• 3+ years of experience working with high-speed interface technologies such as MIPI/MPHY, HDMI, USB, Display…