This role will be on-site 5 days a week in NW Austin.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 ResponsibilitiesTechnical 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.
QualificationsRequired- 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.
