Senior Principal Frontend RTL Engineer

We are looking for a PCIe Sub-system Front-end RTL lead for next generation chiplet based SoCs for High-performance Compute and AI silicon .

What You'll Do

• Own the PCIe subsystem microarchitecture from the PHY interface through the MAC and Transaction Layer, defining the internal block boundaries, data paths, and control interfaces.
• Lead the integration of third-party PCIe controller and PHY hard IP, including wrapper RTL that adds mode selection, telemetry hooks, and bridging logic to the chiplet's internal fabric.
• Define and implement the bifurcation and lane-configuration logic, ensuring all supported lane-width configurations operate correctly across the full range of operating modes.
• Specify and drive implementation of the Transaction Layer pipeline: TLP reception, integrity checking, header classification, routing decisions, and handoff to downstream subsystems.
• Own the Virtual Channel and flow-control architecture, ensuring fair arbitration and back-pressure handling across all traffic classes.
• Define the integration interface to the PCIe subsystem such asTLP-to-flit adaptation, flow-control mapping, and error handling at the boundary.
• Collaborate with the management firmware team to define the PCIe register map, mode-select interface, and run-time telemetry structures exposed to the on-chip management processor.
• Work with the Physical Design Lead to meet timing closure requirements for the PCIe subsystem, including MAC-PHY interface timing, reset sequencing, and floorplan constraints.
• Hold the PCIe performance budget for each operating mode: bandwidth efficiency, latency through the Transaction Layer, and error recovery overhead.
• Define the PCIe power management architecture — link state transitions, ASPM policy, and integration with the chiplet-level power coordination scheme.
• Lead PCIe silicon bring-up planning: define bringup sequence, debug instrumentation requirements, loopback modes, and the hand-off criteria for production readiness.
• Mentor and guide RTL design engineers responsible for PCIe subsystem implementation, providing architectural guidance and RTL review.
• Partner with the DV team to define the PCIe UVM verification plan, coverage model, and protocol-checker requirements.
• Serve as the technical point of contact for PCIe-related customer integration questions, supporting anchor customer engagements on interface bring-up and interoperability.
• Author and maintain the PCIe subsystem micro-architecture specification, keeping it current through RTL implementation and sign-off.

WhatWe'reLooking For

• 20-25 years of digital IC design experience, with at least 4 years focused on PCIe subsystem design or integration at the block-lead or module-owner level.
• Deep expertise in PCIe architecture: Transaction Layer, Data Link Layer, Physical Layer, TLP structure, flow control, Virtual Channels, and error handling.
• Hands-on experience integrating PCIe hard IP (controller and/or SerDes PHY) into production SoC or chiplet designs, including wrapper RTL, reset sequencing, and PnR constraints.
• Background in SR-IOV, multi-function device configuration, or host software driver interaction at the hardware level.
• Strong SystemVerilog RTL skills: able to write, review, and own production RTL for complex pipelined state machines, FIFOs, arbiters, and control logic.
• CXL 1.1/2.0 or 3.0 protocol knowledge, particularly CXL.io and CXL.mem transaction handling built on the PCIe fabric.
• Solid understanding of PCIe PHY-MAC interface protocols and timing requirements,
• Experience with PCIe compliance testing and PCI-SIG certification process — understanding of test requirements, common failure modes, and debug methodology.
• Familiarity with PCIe power management, L0s/L1 state machines, state transitions etc.
• Competency in multi-clock-domain design: async FIFO, CDC synchronizers, and clock crossing at the PCIe-to-internal-fabric boundary.
• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.

Good To Have

• Experience with UCIe or another die-to-die protocol at the PCIe TLP adaptation layer — mapping TLPs to a flit-based D2D transport.
• Prior experience with protocol bridging or gearbox designs that span multiple PCIe generations.
• Familiarity with PCIe IP integration, including customization and support engagement.
• Experience at an advanced-node (7 nm or below) tape-out, particularly with the timing closure and floorplan considerations for designs.

Skills:

PCIE

CXL

SRIOV

UCIE

D2D

PCI-SIG

Serdes

Sunaina Arora

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