Secrets of VLSI Careers: From Design Wizards to Silicon Sorcery! ????????

Below is a tabulated list of various jobs in the VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) career domain, along with the skills and courses typically required for each role. Keep in mind that the specific skills and courses might vary depending on the company, position level, and technology focus within VLSI. This list provides a general overview:

Job TitleDescriptionRequired SkillsRecommended Courses
VLSI Design EngineerDesign and develop VLSI circuits and systemsDigital design, Verilog/VHDL, ASIC/FPGA flow, CAD toolsVLSI Design, Digital Logic Design, FPGA Prototyping
Verification EngineerVerify and validate VLSI designsSystemVerilog/UVM, ASIC verification, scriptingVLSI Verification, Advanced Digital Verification
Physical Design EngineerImplement physical layout of VLSI designsIC layout tools, floorplanning, timing closureVLSI Physical Design, ASIC Layout, Timing Analysis
Analog Design EngineerDesign analog and mixed-signal circuitsAnalog IC design, CMOS circuits, CAD toolsAnalog Integrated Circuits, RF Circuit Design
RFIC EngineerDesign radio-frequency integrated circuitsRF circuit design, RF simulation tools, EM simulationRFIC Design, RF System Design, Antenna Theory
Design for Test (DFT) EngineerImplement testability features in designsScan chains, ATPG, JTAG, DFT methodologiesDFT and Testability, Built-In Self-Test (BIST)
Design Automation EngineerDevelop EDA tools and methodologiesProgramming (Python/C++), EDA algorithmsEDA Tool Development, Algorithms for VLSI CAD
System-on-Chip (SoC) ArchitectPlan and design complex SoCsSoC architecture, communication protocolsSoC Design and Test, Embedded Systems
Low Power Design EngineerOptimize circuits for low power consumptionPower management, voltage scaling, power analysisLow Power VLSI Design, Power-Aware Design Techniques
FPGA EngineerDevelop FPGA-based solutionsFPGA programming, RTL design, hardware-software co-designFPGA-based System Design, High-Level Synthesis

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and there are many other specialized roles within the VLSI domain. The skills and courses mentioned are general guidelines, and candidates might need additional skills and expertise depending on the specific requirements of the job and the company.

For acquiring the required skills and knowledge, individuals can pursue relevant courses from universities or online platforms, and they may also benefit from internships or projects that provide hands-on experience in the VLSI field.

Kumar Priyadarshi
Kumar Priyadarshi

Kumar Priyadarshi is a prominent figure in the world of technology and semiconductors. With a deep passion for innovation and a keen understanding of the intricacies of the semiconductor industry, Kumar has established himself as a thought leader and expert in the field. He is the founder of Techovedas, India’s first semiconductor and AI tech media company, where he shares insights, analysis, and trends related to the semiconductor and AI industries.

Kumar Joined IISER Pune after qualifying IIT-JEE in 2012. In his 5th year, he travelled to Singapore for his master’s thesis which yielded a Research Paper in ACS Nano. Kumar Joined Global Foundries as a process Engineer in Singapore working at 40 nm Process node. He couldn’t find joy working in the fab and moved to India. Working as a scientist at IIT Bombay as Senior Scientist, Kumar Led the team which built India’s 1st Memory Chip with Semiconductor Lab (SCL)

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