Principal Digital Design Engineer (f/m/d)

About the Role

Renesas is seeking a Principal Digital Design Engineer to join our SoC development team in Zurich. This is a senior technical leadership position with direct influence over digital architecture decisions, design methodology, and product direction for next-generation power management and connectivity SoCs.

The role demands deep expertise in digital IC design, a proven track record of silicon delivery, and the ability to operate effectively across engineering disciplines and organisational boundaries.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Design

• Define digital architecture for complex mixed-signal SoCs (power management, wireless power, connectivity)
• Lead design and integration of digital subsystems: control logic, FSMs, datapaths, embedded microcontroller subsystems, register maps, and bus architectures (AHB/APB or equivalent)
• Own RTL development end-to-end, from micro-architecture specification through to silicon

Low-Power & Physical Implementation

• Define and drive low-power strategies including clock gating, power domain partitioning, and UPF flows
• Collaborate with physical design teams on synthesis, timing closure, and PPA optimisation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with analog/mixed-signal teams on AMS interfaces
• Partner with verification teams on coverage-driven verification (UVM)
• Support silicon bring-up, debug, and product validation

Technical Leadership

• Author and review micro-architecture specifications and design guidelines
• Define and enforce RTL coding standards
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers
• Contribute to IP reuse strategy, design methodology, and product roadmap

Required Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline
• 10+ years of experience in digital IC and SoC design
• Expert-level RTL design skills in Verilog/SystemVerilog
• Strong background in SoC architecture, integration, synthesis, and timing closure
• Solid knowledge of low-power design techniques, clock domain crossing (CDC), reset strategies, and design-for-test (DFT)
• Hands-on experience with industry-standard EDA tools (Synopsys, Cadence, or equivalent)
• Multiple successful silicon tape-outs as a lead or senior contributor
• Fluent English communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mixed-signal or power IC design (BCD process, wireless power)
• Familiarity with embedded CPU subsystems (ARM Cortex-M or equivalent)
• Exposure to UVM-based verification environments
• Scripting proficiency in Python or Tcl
• Experience in distributed or cross-site engineering teams
• Prior technical ownership at block or chip level

What We Offer

• High-impact role in the design of advanced power and connectivity SoCs
• Technical leadership visibility with a clear path toward Distinguished Engineer or Technical Fellow
• Collaborative, international engineering environment
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package

Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’ As the industry’s leading expert in embedded processing with unmatched quality and system-level know-how, we have evolved to provide scalable and comprehensive semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT industries based on the broadest product portfolio, including High Performance Computing, Embedded Processing, Analog & Connectivity, and Power.
 
With a diverse team of over 21,000 professionals in more than 30 countries, we continue to expand our boundaries to offer enhanced user experiences through digitalization and usher into a new era of innovation. We design and develop sustainable, power-efficient solutions today that help people and communities thrive tomorrow, ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’     
 
At Renesas, you can: 

• Launch and advance your career in technical and business roles across four Product Groups and various corporate functions. You will have the opportunities to explore our hardware and software capabilities and try new things.  

• Make a real impact by developing innovative products and solutions to meet our global customers' evolving needs and help make people’s lives easier, safe and secure. 

• Maximize your performance and wellbeing in our flexible and inclusive work environment. Our people-first culture and global support system, including the remote work option and Employee Resource Groups, will help you excel from the first day.    

Are you ready to own your success and make your mark?  

Join Renesas. Let’s Shape the Future together.  

Renesas Electronics is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to supporting diversity and fostering a work environment free of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more information, please read our Diversity & Inclusion Statement.

We have adopted a hybrid model that gives employees the ability to work remotely two days a week while ensuring that we come together as a team in the office the rest of the time. The designated in-office days are Tuesday through Thursday for innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.