Staff Design Engineer

Staff Design Engineer Overview

Arm is seeking an experienced Staff Subsystem Design Engineer to join its IP and Technology team within the Solutions Engineering department. The role focuses on creating subsystem solutions and SoC IP for next-generation platforms aimed at Edge AI, Physical AI, and Cloud AI. The team works across Arm to combine the latest Arm technologies with selected third-party IP, and to develop new IP where needed, in order to deliver highly integrated and optimized solutions.

This position is intended for a motivated and creative engineer with deep experience in RTL, IP design, and subsystem development. You will work on demanding subsystem problems, build microarchitectures, design and integrate IP, and solve complex engineering challenges involving power, performance, area, and implementation. The role involves close collaboration with a broad, global engineering community spanning architecture, verification, implementation, and other technology groups to produce high-quality designs.

What you will do

• Review architectural and system specifications, identify implementation challenges, and work with architects to refine the best solution.
• Develop microarchitecture specifications for subsystems and IP from high-level requirements.
• Create new IP and subsystem logic when needed, and integrate existing Arm and third-party IP into complete subsystem solutions.
• Understand IP behavior, interfaces, and system-level interactions to ensure integration is robust and reliable.
• Define and maintain design intent, including UPF and timing constraints where applicable.
• Carry out and help drive design-quality checks such as lint, CDC, RDC, X-propagation, synthesis, and other static design analyses.
• Assess architectural and implementation trade-offs and communicate the reasoning behind design decisions clearly.
• Work closely with verification teams to review test plans, support verification activities, and debug complex design problems.
• Partner with implementation, performance, and power teams to ensure the design meets functional, timing, area, power, and performance targets.
• Contribute to improvements in design methods and flows so they continue to support evolving subsystem and IP development needs.
• Plan and manage your own work to deliver high-quality results on schedule.
• Provide technical guidance, take part in design reviews, and support other engineers while contributing effectively to the wider team.

What Arm is looking for

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, computer engineering, or a related discipline, and bring at least 10 years of relevant industry experience. The ideal candidate will have substantial hands-on experience in digital RTL design and microarchitecture development using SystemVerilog and/or Verilog, along with a strong record of delivering sophisticated IP or RTL subsystem designs.

You should have a deep understanding of RTL design techniques and methods used in complex subsystem and SoC development, plus the ability to interpret high-level specifications and convert them into efficient, robust microarchitectures. Experience with industry-standard EDA tools and methodologies is expected, as is practical knowledge of static design checks including lint, CDC, RDC, and X-propagation. You should also have experience with synthesis, timing analysis, and power-management techniques.

The role requires familiarity with low-power design approaches, including UPF, clock gating, power gating, and multiple power domains. You must be able to navigate trade-offs across performance, power, area, timing, and complexity, and explain the rationale behind engineering choices. Knowledge of on-chip protocols and interfaces such as AMBA AXI, APB, and streaming interfaces is also required, along with a strong understanding of computer architecture and processor-based systems.

Arm also values familiarity with AI-assisted software development tools and scripting workflows, including coding assistants such as Codex, GitHub Copilot, or similar technologies. Strong communication, collaboration, and teamwork skills are essential, as is a self-driven mindset with the ability to take ownership of complex technical issues and drive them to completion.

Desirable experience

• Experience with Arm-based designs, Arm system architectures, and AMBA protocols.
• Experience with advanced low-power RTL design and power-aware verification, including power and clock gating, retention, and DVFS.
• Experience with SystemVerilog Assertions, formal verification techniques, and UVM.
• Knowledge of functional safety methods and safety-related hardware design.
• Experience improving RTL, IP, or subsystem design flows and methodologies.
• High-level programming experience such as C or C++.

What you can expect in return

You will have the chance to apply your engineering experience to challenging subsystem and IP design problems while working with teams across Arm on technologies for the next generation of AI systems. You will be part of a diverse global engineering organization where you can develop new IP, influence subsystem microarchitecture, and create highly optimized designs that help improve the performance and power efficiency of future systems.

Working style and location

The role is listed for Cambridge, United Kingdom, with additional locations in Manchester, Bristol, and Sheffield. Arm describes its approach as hybrid working. The company says it aims to balance high performance with personal wellbeing by bringing people together in person while also preserving flexibility. Hybrid patterns are set by teams based on the needs of the work, and the exact arrangement for this role will be shared during the application process. Arm also notes that flexibility may be limited in some cases by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and that it will work with candidates to find the best possible solution.

Support during recruitment

Arm says it is committed to building exceptional teams and will provide reasonable adjustments or accommodations during the hiring process if needed. Candidates can email [email protected] to request support. Examples include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or help with office accessibility. Arm states that accommodation requests are handled confidentially and that information will only be shared as needed to arrange the support.

Equal opportunity

Arm states that it is an equal opportunity employer and aims to provide a respectful environment where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. The company says it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Pay and additional information

The advertised salary range for this position is £97,300 to £131,700 per year.

Arm also highlights broader rewards and benefits across health and wellness, work-life balance, financial rewards, and development and support. The page includes references to the company’s life-at-Arm content, stories, and talent community, where candidates can register for job alerts and receive updates about future opportunities.

Degree Requirement: Bachelor’s

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