Principal ASIC Design Engineer

Atom Computing · Boulder, CO / Austin, TX

At Atom Computing, we build quantum computers using arrays of optically trapped neutral atoms that will empower customers to achieve unprecedented computational breakthroughs. Join a world-class team of scientists, engineers, and business professionals to advance the state-of-the-art in quantum computing. 

Atom Computing is seeking a Principal ASIC Designer to lead the development of critical technologies that power our quantum computers. In this role, you will own end-to-end design strategy—from requirements definition through silicon bring-up—while driving critical trade-off decisions across performance, power, area, and system integration constraints. You will partner closely with customers and cross-functional teams to translate evolving requirements into scalable, production-ready designs, ensuring alignment between technical execution and business objectives. As a senior technical leader, you will provide strategic guidance to executive stakeholders, shaping the long-term silicon roadmap and influencing key investment decisions. This position requires deep expertise in ASIC development and strong systems thinking. Reporting to the Hardware Engineering Manager, you’ll collaborate closely with a talented group of engineers and physicists to shape the future of computing. 

This position may be based in Boulder, CO, or Austin, TX. 

Responsibilities

  • Participate in the design and development of FPGA designs to learn the hardware architectures and designs that we intend to scale for performance and density
  • Lead the research and assessment into how to best leverage ASICs to enable higher performance and higher density future generations
  • Establish ASIC design processes internal to Atom Computing by defining methodologies across architecture, RTL, verification, and tapeout.
  • Perform hands-on ASIC design including microarchitecture, RTL development, testing, and integration.
  • Manage schedules and vendor interfaces by coordinating milestones, aligning with ASIC partners, and ensuring successful fabrication.
  • Work closely with Atom Computing’s quantum physicists, optical engineers, hardware and software engineers to understand use cases and deliver hardware that addresses the needs. 
  • Manage the product roadmap and subsystem delivery schedules for both commercial and research projects. 
  • Experience & Education

  • MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
  • 10+ years of post-degree experience in hardware engineering, specifically in ASIC/SoC environments.
  • Qualifications

  • Have gone through 2 or more complete ASIC design cycles.
  • Experience porting designs from FPGA prototypes to ASICs
  • Proficiency with RTL (SystemVerilog preferred)
  • Experience in implementing large digital signal processing blocks in RTL
  • Working knowledge of performance and limitations of ASIC fabs, partners, and design nodes as well as FPGA capabilities to guide selection of best fit for our applications
  • Knowledge of Cadence, Synopsys, or Siemens EDA design tools
  • Expertise in FPGA, microprocessor, and related digital circuit design and functions
  • Mixed signal design experience is a plus.
  • Apply →