Sr. Director - SoC Front End Engineering

Ambiq is seeking a Senior Director of Front-End Engineering to lead the design and implementation of our Edge AI MCU portfolio — driving the digital design, integration, and verification of ultra-low-power SoCs purpose-built for machine learning at the edge.

This is a hands-on, strategic leadership role responsible for building and scaling a world-class engineering organization that delivers breakthrough performance-per-microwatt. The ideal candidate combines deep technical acumen with people leadership excellence and has a proven record of bringing advanced SoCs from architecture to production.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Own and drive the front-end design of Ambiq’s Edge AI MCU platforms — including CPU subsystems, neural accelerators, security, memory, and peripheral integration.

• Lead architecture definition, RTL design, and subsystem integration focused on power-optimized AI compute and real-time performance.

• Develop and enforce world-class design methodologies across RTL, verification (UVM), and static checks (lint, CDC, DFT readiness).

• Partner with Architecture and Physical Design teams to ensure seamless PPA optimization and first-silicon success.

• Evaluate and deploy next-generation EDA tools, design automation, and verification infrastructure to accelerate tapeout readiness.

Execution & Delivery

• Drive design execution for multiple MCU programs concurrently, from concept through production tapeout.

• Define and track program milestones, deliverables, and risk management plans with cross-functional stakeholders.

• Establish design review frameworks and sign-off criteria ensuring predictable, high-quality execution.

People & Organization Leadership

• Lead and grow a team of front-end engineers across design, verification, and integration disciplines.

• Build a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and accountability.

• Mentor senior technical staff and create clear pathways for career growth and technical leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with system architects, analog/mixed-signal, and validation teams to co-optimize hardware and software performance.

• Partner with Product Management to translate application requirements (vision, voice, sensing) into silicon-level specifications.

• Interface with Operations, Test, and Product Engineering to ensure DFT, yield, and manufacturability goals are achieved.

Qualifications

Required

• 20 years of experience in semiconductor front-end design and verification, with 15 years in a leadership capacity managing multi-disciplinary teams.

• Proven track record of delivering MCU, SoC, or ASIC products into high-volume production.

• Expertise in low-power digital design, including multi-voltage domains, power gating, and clock management.

• Strong hands-on understanding of SystemVerilog, UVM, and synthesis/STA methodologies.

• Familiarity with ARM Cortex-M/R/A or RISC-V architectures and on-chip interconnects (AHB/AXI).

• Excellent communication and leadership skills; proven ability to lead complex, cross-site teams.

• Education: BS/MS in Electrical or Computer Engineering required; Ph.D. preferred.

Preferred

• Experience with subthreshold or near-threshold design techniques and power modeling.

• Knowledge of EDA flows at advanced process nodes (16nm and below).

What Success Looks Like

• First-pass silicon success across multiple Edge AI MCU programs.

• Demonstrable improvements in design productivity, quality, and predictability.

• Market-leading metrics enabling industry-best energy efficiency.

• A cohesive, motivated team operating at high technical and cultural standards.