IC Design Engineer

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Integrated Circuit Design Group is looking for a highly skilled and motivated analog/mixed-signal IC Design Engineer to join our group. In this role, you will develop custom ASICs for major Laboratory projects in the fields of high-energy physics, nuclear science, scientific imaging, and beyond. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to design and deliver advanced integrated circuits that power next‑generation instruments - from new particle discoveries to cutting-edge imaging, to probing fundamental questions about the origins of the universe.

Employer:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory at the forefront of discovery, tackling grand challenges in energy, the environment, health, materials, and fundamental physics - work that has led to 17 Nobel Prizes , and countless scientific discoveries. Home to world-class user facilities - including the Advanced Light Source, the Molecular Foundry, NERSC, and the Joint Genome Institute - the Lab empowers thousands of researchers each year to probe matter and the cosmos with unprecedented precision. Its interdisciplinary teams translate breakthrough science into real-world impact, from cleaner energy technologies and climate insights to advanced detectors, imaging systems, and data platforms that shape entire fields.

Responsibilities:

• Develop high-performance analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for detector instrumentation with a focus on development of high channel-count sensor readout ASICs operating in extreme environments (such as high-radiation, cryogenic, or in-vacuum environments).
• Under general supervision, take responsibility for specific subtasks such as block design, layout, verification, and ensuring successful chip integration. Test and evaluate integrated circuits and interface with other electronic equipment.
• Contribute to proposals for new IC technologies supporting scientific projects and programs.
• Provide engineering judgment to solve a variety of technical problems, with due consideration for scientific and practical concerns.
• Collaborate effectively with engineering and scientific teams.
• Provide guidance to and assist technical staff as needed.
• Prepare technical or progress reports and documentation.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with 2+ years of relevant IC design experience, or an advanced degree with no experience required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of circuit theory and design.
• Proficiency with IC design suites (such as Cadence) and transistor-level simulators such as Spectre, Eldo, or HSPICE.
• Broad experience designing analog and mixed signal functional blocks such as opamps, bandgap references, switched capacitor circuits, data converters, charge sensitive front ends, image sensor arrays, LDOs, PLLs, feedback and compensation techniques.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and complete tasks with moderate supervision.
• Skilled in breaking down assignments, applying engineering judgment, and developing creative technical solutions.
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills in authoring technical and scientific reports and publications and presenting conceptual and completed designs through design reviews and documentation.
• Typically requires 5+ years of IC design experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 3+ years with a Master’s, or equivalent work experience.
• Extended experience with integrated circuit design, ranging all the way from concept to full-chip integration.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams, cross-functional collaboration, system specification, and solving complex engineering problems.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and complete tasks with minimal supervision, ability to manage projects.

Preferred qualifications:

• Develop ASIC test systems using FPGAs and custom software.
• Expertise in scientific instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and physics.
• Graduate degree in Electrical Engineering with an IC design focus preferred.
• Digital design experience with Verilog or VHDL.
• Experience in system modeling and specification.
• Ability to maintain, evaluate, and install process design kits (PDKs).

Additional information:

• Appointment type: This is a full-time 2 year, term appointment with the possibility of extension or conversion to Career appointment based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds and ongoing operational needs.

Union represented: This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes.

• Salary range:
  • The expected salary for the IC Design Engineer Level 2 position is $125,000 - $153,000, which fits into the full salary of $111,204 - $187,680 depending upon the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
  • The expected salary for the IC Design Engineer Level 3 position is $149,000 - $182,000, which fits into the full salary of $132,264 - $223,176 depending upon the candidate’s skills, knowledge, and abilities. This includes education, certifications, and years of experience.
• Background check: This position is subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment.
• Work modality: Work will be primarily performed at:Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. A REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification is required to access Berkeley Lab sites (for more information click here ).

Want to learn more about working at Berkeley Lab? Please visit: careers.lbl.gov

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: The foundation of Berkeley Lab is our Stewardship Values: Team Science, Service, Trust, Innovation, and Respect; and we strive to build community with these shared values and commitments. Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We heartily welcome applications from all who could contribute to the Lab's mission of leading scientific discovery, excellence, and professionalism. In support of our rich global community, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under State and Federal law.

Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. For additional information, click here .

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