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Staff Digital IC Design Engineer - Digital Compute Team - Job Opportunity at onsemi

La Tène, Switzerland
Full-time
Senior
Posted: June 9, 2025
On-site
Based on the Swiss market for senior semiconductor engineers, this Staff-level position likely offers CHF 130,000-160,000 annually (approximately USD 140,000-175,000). Switzerland's premium for semiconductor talent, combined with the 8+ years experience requirement and leadership responsibilities, places this role in the upper tier of engineering compensation. The location in La Tène, near major tech hubs, supports this range.

Benefits

25 vacation days per year providing above-average time off compared to standard European practices
Highly competitive benefit package positioning the role attractively in the Swiss semiconductor market
Continuous learning and professional development opportunities essential for staying current in rapidly evolving semiconductor technology
International project participation offering global exposure and career advancement potential
Volunteer and charitable program support demonstrating corporate social responsibility and work-life balance
Diverse and inclusive work environment fostering innovation and collaboration

Key Responsibilities

Architect and design next-generation MCU and DSP systems that will power critical applications across automotive, industrial, and IoT markets
Lead the specification and implementation of hardware accelerators and peripheral IPs that directly impact product performance and market competitiveness
Drive system benchmarking and optimization to ensure products meet stringent performance requirements in competitive semiconductor markets
Provide strategic consultation to product integration teams for seamless system integration and market success
Spearhead verification and FPGA prototyping initiatives that de-risk product development and accelerate time-to-market
Coordinate cross-functional SDK development activities ensuring software-hardware synergy for end-user applications
Lead critical project activities and mentor engineering teams to build organizational capability and ensure project success
Drive design methodology improvements that enhance productivity and quality across the entire development organization

Requirements

Education

Minimum BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or related technical field

Experience

At least 8 years of relevant work experience in semiconductor product development including engineering leadership

Required Skills

Experience with embedded CPUs (e.g. ARM Cortex, DSP), AMBA bus protocols (AHB/APB) RTL design of digital IP blocks and systems in Verilog/SystemVerilog Technical document writing Excellent English written and verbal communication skills Eligibility to work in Switzerland Project/task leadership Design of CPU/MCU (sub)systems, SystemRDL or IP-XACT Programming in Python for automation and in C/C++ for embedded software Design intent (timing constraints/SDC, power intent/UPF) Design of signal processing components RTL to GDS flow, including logic synthesis, place-and-route, STA, power analysis Advanced digital verification methodology (e.g. UVM)
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The semiconductor industry is experiencing unprecedented demand driven by automotive electrification, with MCU and DSP systems becoming critical components in electric vehicle powertrains, autonomous driving systems, and advanced driver assistance systems. This trend is creating sustained high demand for experienced digital IC design engineers who can architect complex embedded systems. Industrial automation and Industry 4.0 initiatives are driving significant growth in demand for intelligent embedded processors and hardware accelerators. Companies are investing heavily in smart manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and edge computing solutions, all requiring sophisticated MCU/DSP systems that this role would directly impact. The 5G and edge computing revolution is creating new requirements for low-latency, high-performance embedded processing solutions. Digital IC design engineers with experience in hardware acceleration and real-time processing are becoming increasingly valuable as companies race to enable next-generation connectivity and computing applications. Power efficiency and sustainable computing are becoming paramount concerns across all semiconductor applications. Engineers who can design energy-efficient digital systems while maintaining performance are critical as companies face increasing pressure to meet environmental regulations and customer sustainability requirements.

Role Significance

Typically manages or leads a team of 3-6 engineers while collaborating across multiple cross-functional teams including software, verification, and product integration groups. The role involves coordination with international teams and serves as a technical focal point for major system development initiatives.
This Staff-level position represents a senior individual contributor role with significant technical leadership responsibilities. The role sits at a critical juncture between senior engineering and principal/architect levels, requiring both deep technical expertise and the ability to guide project direction and mentor other engineers. The combination of 8+ years experience requirement with leadership expectations indicates this person would be a key technical decision-maker for major product initiatives.

Key Projects

Development of next-generation automotive MCU systems for electric vehicle control units and autonomous driving applications Design of industrial IoT processors for smart manufacturing and predictive maintenance systems Creation of energy-efficient embedded processors for 5G infrastructure and edge computing applications Implementation of hardware accelerators for AI/ML workloads in embedded systems Development of safety-critical processing systems meeting automotive functional safety standards

Success Factors

Deep technical mastery of ARM processor architectures and AMBA bus protocols, as these form the foundation of most modern embedded systems and are critical for making architectural decisions that impact system performance and power efficiency Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities to guide junior engineers and drive complex projects to completion, as the role explicitly requires engineering leadership and project coordination across multiple teams Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills to work effectively with software teams, verification engineers, and product integration groups, ensuring seamless system development and successful product launches Strategic thinking ability to make architectural decisions that balance performance, power, cost, and time-to-market considerations while anticipating future market requirements and technology trends Continuous learning mindset to stay current with rapidly evolving semiconductor technologies, design methodologies, and industry standards, particularly in emerging areas like AI acceleration and advanced process nodes

Market Demand

Extremely high demand driven by critical semiconductor shortages, automotive electrification needs, and the strategic importance of embedded processing in emerging technologies. The combination of required skills in ARM processors, AMBA protocols, and RTL design represents a scarce skill set that companies are actively competing to secure.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

ARM Cortex processor expertise is absolutely essential as these cores dominate the embedded market and form the foundation of most modern MCU and DSP systems. Deep understanding of ARM architectures enables optimal system design and performance optimization. AMBA bus protocol knowledge (AHB/APB) is critical because these industry-standard interconnects determine system performance, power efficiency, and integration success. Mastery of these protocols is required for designing scalable, high-performance embedded systems. RTL design proficiency in Verilog/SystemVerilog is fundamental to the role as it directly impacts the engineer's ability to implement and optimize digital designs. This skill determines the quality, performance, and manufacturability of the final silicon products. Technical leadership and project management capabilities are crucial because the role requires coordinating complex multi-team projects and mentoring other engineers. Success depends on the ability to drive technical decisions and guide project execution. System-level thinking and architecture skills are essential for making design decisions that balance performance, power, cost, and schedule constraints while ensuring the final product meets market requirements and competitive positioning.

Beneficial Skills

Python programming automation skills become increasingly valuable as design complexity grows and development schedules compress. Engineers who can automate repetitive tasks and create efficient design flows provide significant competitive advantages to their teams. Advanced verification methodology knowledge (UVM) is highly beneficial as verification complexity continues to grow with system sophistication. This skill reduces project risk and accelerates time-to-market for complex embedded systems. RTL-to-GDS flow understanding provides valuable insight into physical implementation challenges, enabling better architectural decisions and more manufacturable designs. This knowledge becomes critical as process nodes advance and physical effects dominate. Signal processing component design expertise is increasingly important as embedded systems incorporate more AI/ML and advanced sensing capabilities. This skill enables development of next-generation intelligent embedded systems. Power optimization techniques (UPF) and timing analysis skills are becoming more critical as battery life and performance requirements continue to increase across all embedded applications.

Unique Aspects

This role offers direct involvement in developing embedded processors for rapidly growing markets including automotive electrification and industrial automation, providing exposure to technologies that will define the next decade of innovation
The position combines deep technical IC design work with strategic system architecture responsibilities, offering a unique blend of hands-on engineering and high-level technical leadership that accelerates career development
Working at onsemi's Swiss location provides access to European automotive and industrial markets while being part of a global semiconductor leader, offering international exposure and diverse project opportunities
The role's focus on hardware accelerators and DSP systems positions the engineer at the forefront of edge computing and AI acceleration trends, working on technologies that are becoming increasingly critical across multiple industries
The combination of MCU, DSP, and hardware accelerator development in a single role provides unusually broad technical exposure, making this position valuable for engineers seeking comprehensive embedded systems experience

Career Growth

Progression to Principal level typically occurs within 2-4 years given the current market demand and experience base. Management track advancement may take 3-5 years depending on leadership development and organizational needs. The international project exposure and mentoring responsibilities in this role provide excellent preparation for senior leadership positions.

Potential Next Roles

Principal Digital IC Design Engineer positions focusing on system architecture and technology strategy Digital Design Manager roles leading larger engineering teams and multiple product lines System Architect positions defining next-generation embedded processor roadmaps Technical Director roles overseeing entire digital design organizations Product Engineering Manager positions bridging technical development with business strategy

Company Overview

onsemi

onsemi is a major global semiconductor company with a market capitalization exceeding $15 billion, specializing in intelligent power and sensing technologies. The company has undergone significant transformation in recent years, focusing on high-growth markets including automotive, industrial, and cloud power applications. With a strong presence in power management and sensor technologies, onsemi is well-positioned to capitalize on megatrends like vehicle electrification and industrial automation.

onsemi ranks among the top 15 global semiconductor companies and holds leading positions in several key market segments including automotive power management, industrial sensors, and image sensors. The company's focus on intelligent power and sensing technologies aligns well with major industry growth drivers, providing stability and growth opportunities for employees.
The La Tène location in Switzerland represents onsemi's significant European R&D presence, providing access to top-tier engineering talent and proximity to major automotive and industrial customers. This location serves as a key development center for embedded processor technologies, offering employees exposure to cutting-edge projects and international collaboration opportunities.
onsemi emphasizes a collaborative, innovation-focused culture with strong commitments to diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. The company's transformation toward higher-growth markets has created a dynamic environment where engineers can work on technologies that directly impact major global trends. The emphasis on continuous learning and international projects suggests a culture that values technical excellence and professional development.
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