ASIC Architect

ASIC Architect
Location: Remote

Key Responsibilities

ASIC strategy & architecture

• Assess system components to determine which should be implemented as ASIC versus FPGA or GPU.
• Define ASIC architecture in alignment with overall system requirements, including interfaces and memory hierarchy.
• Evaluate trade-offs between different processing units (ASIC, FPGA, GPU, SoC) for performance, power, and scalability.

Architectural planning

• Define and own high-level system architecture, refining requirements into functional, logical, and physical architectures, interfaces, and constraints.
• Lead partitioning decisions (analogue vs. digital domains, core compute, memory and I/O subsystems, chiplet selection, placement, and interconnect strategy).
• Oversee internal and third-party IP for design blocks, chiplets, PDKs, and chip-to-chip / die-to-die interfaces.
• Drive top-level floorplanning.
• Direct functional simulations and co-simulation across multiple domains.

Design & development

• Oversee the ASIC design lifecycle: specification, RTL design, verification, and physical implementation.
• Ensure compatibility with system-level interfaces and integration requirements.

Fabrication & packaging

• Manage relationships with semiconductor foundries and packaging vendors.
• Coordinate fabrication, packaging, and testing processes to meet performance and reliability targets.

Integration & validation

• Lead integration of ASIC components into the broader computing platform.
• Collaborate with software and hardware teams to validate functionality and optimise performance.

Project management

• Define milestones, budgets, and resource allocation for the ASIC workstream.
• Report progress and risks to senior leadership.

Required Qualifications

Technical expertise

• Strong understanding of system architecture, memory requirements, and interface protocols.
• Knowledge of ASIC design flow, including synthesis, place-and-route, and verification.
• Familiarity with FPGA and GPU architectures and their respective advantages.

Experience

• Proven track record managing ASIC projects from concept to production, including fabrication and packaging.
• Experience in heterogeneous computing systems and hardware-software co-design.

Skills

• Ability to assess trade-offs between ASIC, FPGA, and GPU implementations.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with probabilistic or unconventional computing architectures.
• Familiarity with advanced packaging technologies (e.g., chiplets, 2.5D/3D integration).
• Knowledge of low-power design techniques and high-speed interfaces.