Staff RTL Core Engineer

As a Staff RTL Core Engineer at Tenstorrent, your primary responsibilities will include RTL design and microarchitecture of interconnects and related subsystems, collaborating closely with the DV and PD teams. You'll also work with IP vendors, verification, and test teams to ensure high-quality design delivery. Moreover, you'll deploy innovative techniques to improve the power, performance, and area of your designs, debug RTL/logic issues in both pre-silicon and post-silicon environments, and enhance the RTL design environment, tools, and infrastructure.

For the Staff RTL Core Engineer position at Tenstorrent, candidates must possess a BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science along with at least 6 years of relevant industry experience. It is essential to have experience with high-performance interfaces (such as PCI, UCIe, and ethernet), SoC design aspects, and expertise in logic design. Familiarity with hardware description languages like Verilog and VHDL, simulation tools, and power analysis tools is also critical to succeed in this role.

Tenstorrent offers a highly competitive compensation package for the Staff RTL Core Engineer role, with total compensation ranging from $100k to $500k. This includes base salary and variable compensation targets, allowing for alignment with an individual's experience, skills, education, and background. We ensure that our compensation reflects the expertise and contributions of our engineers, making Tenstorrent one of the top choices for professionals in the tech industry.

The team culture at Tenstorrent is characterized by collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to solving challenging problems in the field of AI technology. As a Staff RTL Core Engineer, you will be part of a diverse group of technologists driven by a shared passion for building exceptional AI platforms. We foster an environment where every voice is heard, and innovative ideas can thrive, ensuring that you will have the support and resources necessary to succeed and grow in your role.

The Staff RTL Core Engineer position at Tenstorrent offers a hybrid work environment based out of Santa Clara, CA. This means individuals will enjoy a blend of in-office collaboration and remote work flexibility. Our modern office space encourages teamwork and innovation while providing amenities to support productivity. We also prioritize work-life balance, ensuring our engineers can thrive both personally and professionally.

In answering this question, highlight your previous projects or experiences where you focused on RTL design in high-performance computing environments. Discuss specific designs or features you've worked on, the challenges you faced, and the methodologies you utilized for effective design implementation.

Describe a systematic approach you take in debugging RTL issues, from entering simulations to verifying against expected outputs. Provide examples of tools you've used, like Verilog or VHDL simulators, and how you've effectively resolved complex bugs in both pre-silicon and post-silicon phases.

Emphasize your collaborative skills, providing examples of situations where you actively engaged with DV and PD teams. Discuss how you ensure clear communication and align objectives across departments while maintaining a focus on high-quality design delivery.

Reflect on specific challenges related to microarchitecture that you've encountered, such as performance trade-offs or resource constraints. Talk about the analytical techniques you applied and how your decisions led to a successful design outcome.

Discuss your role in projects that incorporated high-performance interfaces. Detail the specifications you worked with, how you ensured compliance with standards, and any performance metrics you achieved or targeted during the design phase.

Share your experience with specific tools you've utilized for synthesis and power analysis. Discuss how these tools impact your design process and contribute to achieving optimal power, performance, and area results in your projects.

Explain the methods you use to stay informed about advancements in RTL design and microarchitecture, such as subscribing to industry journals, attending conferences, or participating in online forums. Highlight any recent developments that have caught your attention.

Detail an innovative technique you've used to enhance power, performance, or area in your designs. Discuss your motivation for implementing this technique and the positive outcomes that resulted from its application.

Discuss the importance of comprehensive documentation throughout the design process. Mention how good documentation fosters collaboration, aids in debugging, and ensures compliance with industry standards, thereby improving overall design quality.

Share your motivations for wanting to join Tenstorrent, such as the company's commitment to AI technology and innovative solutions. Highlight your passion for high-performance silicon design and how you believe you can make a meaningful impact on the team and projects.