With the advancement of technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, etc, great challenges emerge in terms of computing speed and storage. These problems can be met by one of the specialized branches of electronics known as VLSI. This field holds a lot in terms of salary, designing complex chips, programming, etc. According to the Free Press Journal, students of electronics and VLSI are found to be earning 3 times more than software engineers.
This blog’s major focus today will be to guide you through some of the top trending career paths for freshers in VLSI covering from what the job is about to the salary of the VLSI engineer in India.
Top 5 High-Paying Fresher Jobs in the VLSI Domain
Digital Design Engineer
A digital design engineer, as the name suggests, is the person responsible for designing new digital hardware or circuits.
Key responsibilities:
- Designing circuits and digital systems
- Using hardware description languages (Verilog, VHDL)
- Design analysis and testing
- Performance optimization and energy efficiency
- Working together with other engineers and teams
Skills required:
- Strong foundation in digital electronics
- Proficiency in Verilog or VHDL
- Understanding of logic design and synthesis
- Knowledge of timing analysis and power estimation
- Good problem-solving and analytical skills
Average VLSI Digital Design Engineer salary in India: ₹23.1 Lakhs
Salary Range: ₹3.0 Lakhs to ₹33.0 Lakhs
VLSI Design Engineer
A VLSI Design Engineer designs the physical layout of integrated circuits on computer-aided design (CAD) tools. You can find the CAD(software) available online for making 2D, 3D computer-aided design.
Key responsibilities:
- Create and develop microchips per the given specifications
- Utilize advanced software tools to design complete chip layouts
- Test and simulate chip operation, ensuring that it conforms to established standards
- Diagnose problems and improve designs
- Always be aware of current developments in the field of chip technology
Average VLSI Design Engineer salary in India: ₹13.7 Lakhs
Salary Range: ₹1.8 Lakhs to ₹33.0 Lakhs
Skills required:
- Expertise in CAD tools (e.g., Virtuoso, Cadence)
- Knowledge of semiconductor device physics
- Understanding of layout design rules and constraints
- Good understanding of circuit design principles
- Strong attention to detail
Enrolling in a VLSI design course can help you develop the necessary skills to excel in this role, as these courses often cover the tools and techniques required for chip design and verification.
ASIC Design Engineer
An ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Design Engineer designs models and optimizes logic design.
Key responsibilities:
- Design and develop ASICs based on unique product specifications
- Create thorough chip architecture and specifications
- Simulate and verify the workings of the chip by conducting tests
- Optimize the performance of the chips in terms of power consumption, speed, and area
- Work along with other engineers during the designing phase
Skills required:
- Strong understanding of digital design principles
- Proficiency in Verilog or VHDL
- Experience with logic synthesis and physical design
- Knowledge of ASIC design flow and methodologies
- Good problem-solving and analytical skills
Average Salary: ₹10 Lakhs
Verification Engineer
A Verification Engineer is a kind of programmer or you can say a software developer whose main work is to build systems that will in turn test other systems, products, or tools.
Key responsibilities:
- Create test plans and build test environments (test benches) for simulation of chip behavior
- Write test cases that check various functions of the chips
- Examine simulation results for identifying and fixing defects in designs
- Work closely with design engineers to enhance the layout of chips
- Adopt verification methodologies such as UVM (Universal Verification Methodology) to ease the process
Skills required:
- Strong programming skills (Verilog, SystemVerilog)
- Understanding of digital design and verification concepts
- Experience with testbench development and verification methodologies
- Good problem-solving and debugging skills
- Ability to work effectively in a team
Average Salary: ₹9.5 Lakhs
DFT (Design for Test) Engineer
A DFT Engineer tests chips after they are manufactured. Their work is mainly to identify defects.
Key responsibilities:
- Incorporate testing structures into chips (such as scan chains)
- Fashioning patterns of tests that will reveal production flaws
- Coalesce with design as well as verification engineers for product enhancement in terms of testability
- Study test outcomes to refine semiconductor performance
Skills required:
- Understanding of digital design and test principles
- Knowledge of DFT methodologies and techniques
- Experience with ATPG (Automatic Test Pattern Generation) tools
- Good problem-solving and analytical skills
- Ability to work effectively in a team
Average Salary: ₹10.4 Lakhs
Salary Range: ₹3.0 Lakhs to ₹26.8 Lakhs
Pursuing a VLSI online course can be a flexible way to acquire the knowledge required for a career in this field, offering convenience for those who may not be able to attend in-person classes.
Conclusion
VLSI engineers are the brains of today’s modern electronics and thus whatever VLSI path you may choose you ultimately contribute towards the development of sophisticated chips. The range of salaries can vary based on different factors like the size of the organization, geographical location, level of expertise, etc.
Consider enrolling in a VLSI course to get a complete understanding of the field and enhance your chances of securing a high-paying job in the VLSI domain.
