Principal Digital Engineer

As a Principal Digital Engineer at Renesas, your responsibilities will include proposing and architecting RTL designs in Verilog for our memory interface products, overseeing digital backend design activities such as static timing analysis and logic equivalence checking, and actively participating in design and verification reviews. Additionally, you will mentor junior engineers and contribute to the continuous improvement of our innovative semiconductor solutions.

To apply for the Principal Digital Engineer role at Renesas, you should ideally hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field with a minimum of 12 years of experience in the industry. You will need 8+ years of direct experience in ASIC/IC design, comprehensive knowledge of Verilog RTL coding, and proficiency in digital design methodologies and verification techniques.

Key skills for the Principal Digital Engineer position at Renesas include expertise in Verilog RTL coding, ASIC design methodologies, static timing analysis, and the ability to implement high-level design features. You should also possess strong mentoring abilities, be proficient in formal verification methods, and have experience with digital design implementation, including DFT insertion and gate-level simulations.

At Renesas, Principal Digital Engineers enjoy a flexible and inclusive work environment that prioritizes employee well-being and performance. With options for remote work, a people-first culture, and an array of support systems, you will be empowered to excel in your role while contributing to meaningful innovations in semiconductor solutions.

Renesas provides numerous opportunities for career growth for Principal Digital Engineers, allowing you to explore technical and business roles across various product groups. You will have the chance to work on innovative projects and may also take on leadership responsibilities, contributing to the continuous evolution of our semiconductor technologies.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you designed RTL in Verilog, detailing the challenges you faced, the methodologies you utilized, and the outcomes achieved. Highlight your ability to work collaboratively with other engineers and how your contributions led to successful project completions.

Discuss your practical approach to low power design, including techniques such as clock gating, power gating, and optimizing logic structures. Provide examples from your past work where you successfully reduced power consumption while maintaining performance levels.

For this question, detail your process for performing timing analysis, including tools you use and methods for identifying and resolving timing violations. It's helpful to provide examples of previous work where you successfully managed timing closure.

Explain how synthesis is an integral part of your design process, emphasizing the tools and techniques you apply to ensure optimal logical synthesis. Provide insights into how you collaborate with teams during this phase and insights into verification processes.

Share your knowledge of design verification methodologies, including formal verification and simulation-based approaches. Discuss specific instances where you employed verification techniques to validate your designs and resolve any discrepancies.

Discuss your mentorship philosophy, focusing on how you share knowledge and encourage professional development among junior engineers. You might include examples of mentorship experiences where you guided team members through challenges effectively.

Provide specific insights into how you perform static timing analysis, the tools you utilize, and the importance of timing in your design projects. Detail any metrics or outcomes that highlight your success in achieving timing closure on designs.

For this question, narrate a specific project that posed challenges, explaining the design goals, hurdles faced, and how you overcame them. Emphasize your problem-solving strategies and the skills you utilized during this experience.

Describe your methodology for achieving high coverage DFT insertion, referencing specific techniques like scan chain design and ATPG. Provide insights into your success metrics and how these efforts reduced testing costs or improved product reliability.

Reflect on specific contributions you made that enhanced workflow efficiency or design quality, discussing initiatives you initiated or improvements you implemented. Highlight any quantifiable results that underscore your impact on team performance.