ASIC Design Engineer (Structured and Custom Digital)

Project

Work done for a product or program.

• Design full-custom and semi-custom digital blocks such as register files, content-addressable memories, high-speed counters, serialisers and clock distribution cells.
• Develop structured ASIC and gate-array style implementations for low-volume, fast-turnaround or radiation-hardened programmes.
• Perform transistor-level simulation and characterisation of custom blocks with HSPICE or Spectre across PVT and Monte Carlo variation.
• Own the schematic-to-layout partnership with custom layout designers, specifying bit-pitch, stacking and shielding requirements.
• Design custom digital cells and cell variants required by the product, and drive their characterisation into the Liberty library.
• Implement full-chip ASIC flows for mature-node products such as automotive, industrial and mixed-signal ASICs where a single engineer owns the whole digital section.
• Analyse noise coupling, charge sharing, leakage and reliability effects that RTL-level abstraction hides.
• Support customer-specific ASIC programmes from specification through tapeout including cost, yield and package trade-offs.
• Verify custom blocks against behavioural models so that they can be represented correctly in chip-level simulation.

Function

Work that keeps the discipline running: methods, tools, suppliers and people.

• Hand-craft transistor-level or structured-cell implementations where synthesis and standard cells leave unacceptable area, speed or power on the table.

Project

1. Produce and hand over the role's key deliverables
   • Custom digital block schematics, layout intent and characterised models
   • Transistor-level simulation and Monte Carlo characterisation reports
   • Behavioural models of custom blocks for chip-level simulation
   • Structured ASIC implementation and mask-programming data
   • Custom cell specifications and Liberty characterisation inputs
   • ASIC product-level design documentation and tapeout package
2. Design the blockGeneral
   • Write or capture the design to the specification
   • Run lint, simulation or circuit checks
   • Close design reviews and their actions
3. Support integration and sign-offGeneral
   • Fix bugs found by verification
   • Support timing and physical closure
   • Deliver handoff files and documentation

Function

1. Keep design methods currentGeneral
   • Maintain coding and design standards
   • Build and maintain reusable blocks
2. Develop peopleGeneral
   • Mentor newer engineers
   • Run design reviews and knowledge sharing sessions