ASIC Program Manager (AI Hardware)

ASIC Program Manager

An AI company is seeking a seasoned ASIC Program Manager to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of complex ASIC development programs.

This is not an IT-related role. The position sits at the center of our silicon development efforts, working closely with hardware, software, and operations teams to drive schedules, manage risk, and ensure successful silicon delivery from concept through production.

You will serve as the operational hub between engineering teams, ensuring coordination across RTL design, verification, physical design, software integration, and post-silicon validation. Experience with AI chip or accelerator tapeouts is a strong plus.

Key Responsibilities

ASIC Program Leadership

• Own end-to-end project management for ASIC programs, from architecture definition through PVT (Post-Silicon Validation and Test) and production release
• Develop and maintain program schedules, milestones, and resource plans across distributed engineering teams
• Identify critical path risks and proactively drive mitigation strategies to ensure successful program execution

Tapeout and Silicon Program Execution

• Lead and coordinate tapeout execution across RTL, verification, DFT, physical design, packaging, and board teams
• Track tapeout readiness milestones and sign-off checklists including timing, power, and design rule verification
• Manage Engineering Change Order (ECO) processes and silicon revision planning

Hardware / Software Program Coordination

• Serve as the primary interface between hardware and software teams
• Ensure firmware, drivers, SDKs, and software stack development align with silicon milestones and bring-up readiness
• Coordinate hardware/software co-development schedules including pre-silicon models, emulation platforms, and post-silicon validation timelines

Program Governance and Communication

• Drive sprint planning, stand-ups, retrospectives, and backlog management to support continuous program delivery
• Facilitate cross-functional program reviews and tape-out readiness reviews
• Communicate program status, risks, and tradeoffs clearly to leadership and stakeholders

Process Improvement and Operations

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure program success
• Apply PMBOK frameworks alongside Agile practices to manage the project lifecycle
• Drive continuous improvement of program management processes, tools, and templates across the ASIC organization

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
• 7 years of program or project management experience within the semiconductor or ASIC industry
• 3 years of direct experience managing complex ASIC tapeouts
• Strong familiarity with the full ASIC development lifecycle from architecture through silicon bring-up and production
• Understanding of tapeout flows, sign-off criteria (timing, power, DRC/LVS), and foundry interaction processes
• Experience coordinating hardware and software engineering teams across distributed environments
• Proficiency with program management tools such as Jira, Smartsheet, MS Project, or similar
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including executive-level reporting

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or MBA
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent program management certification
• Experience with AI chips or AI accelerator tapeouts (training or inference workloads)
• Experience with advanced semiconductor process nodes (12nm and below)
• Familiarity with AI / ML workloads and associated hardware/software stacks
• Background as an ASIC design or verification engineer prior to moving into program management
• Experience working with TSMC or other leading semiconductor foundries