Digital - SerDes Digital Design Lead
Eliyan · San Francisco
DesignEngineeringOn-siteFull-time
Eliyan is hiring a Digital - SerDes Digital Design Lead in San Francisco, California (on-site, full-time). Posted 20 February 2026. Apply directly on Eliyan's own careers site — no account needed.
Join the leading chiplet startup! As the SerDes Digital Design Lead at Eliyan, you will drive the architecture and implementation of next-generation high-speed serial link IPs targeting 224G and 448G data rates for chiplet-based systems with best-in-class power, area, manufacturability, and design flexibility. You will lead the digital design of SerDes transmitter and receiver datapaths, clock and data recovery (CDR) digital logic, equalization engines, and PHY-level controller logic for cutting-edge interconnect products. You will work with a cross-functional team of experts that operate from first principles, innovate and push the envelope to create high-volume and high-performance manufacturable products. We offer a fun work environment with excellent benefits.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the micro-architecture definition and RTL implementation of high-speed SerDes digital blocks targeting 224G PAM4 and 448G signaling, including DSP-based equalization (FFE, DFE, CTLE digital controls), CDR loop logic, and adaptation engines
- Design and optimize PHY-level digital logic including TX driver control, RX datapath, PCS sublayers, lane alignment, deskew, and gear-boxing/rate-matching logic
- Architect and implement forward error correction (FEC) encoder/decoder blocks including RS-FEC (KP4/KP8), interleaving, and low-latency FEC architectures optimized for 224G/448G link budgets
- Drive RTL design quality through lint, CDC/RDC analysis, synthesis optimization, and close collaboration with physical design and timing closure teams on advanced FinFET/GAA process nodes
- Collaborate closely with analog/mixed-signal designers on SerDes AFE integration, digital-to-analog interface specification, calibration sequencing, and AMS co-simulation bring-up
- Own design deliverables and milestones from RTL development through tapeout signoff; coordinate with verification, DFT, and backend teams to meet aggressive schedules
- Define and implement auto-negotiation, link training, and PHY initialization state machines compliant with IEEE 802.3
- Develop power-efficient digital architectures with emphasis on clock gating, voltage scaling, and low-power design techniques for data center and AI/ML interconnect applications
- Participate in standards bodies and stay current with emerging 224G/448G specifications, OIF CEI, and next-generation interconnect standards
- Design firmware-accessible register interfaces, configuration/calibration logic, and DPI-based firmware co-simulation hooks for PHY bring-up and debug
- Support post-silicon characterization and debug activities; correlate silicon measurements with pre-silicon simulation results to drive design improvements
Qualifications:
- Masters or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
- 12+ years of experience in digital design of high-speed SerDes, PHY, or transceiver IPs with proven tapeout experience at 112G PAM4 or higher data rates
- Strong RTL design skills in SystemVerilog with deep understanding of synthesis, timing closure, CDC/RDC, and design-for-test (DFT) methodologies
- Expert-level knowledge of SerDes DSP architectures including FFE, DFE, MLSE, CTLE digital controls, CDR loop dynamics, and adaptation/calibration algorithms for PAM4 signaling
- Strong working knowledge of IEEE 802.3 (100G/200G/400G/800G/1.6T), OIF CEI specifications, FEC architectures (RS-FEC KP4/KP8), and/or die-to-die standards such as UCIe
- Hands-on experience with high-speed digital design on advanced process nodes (5nm, 3nm, or below) with understanding of FinFET/GAA device implications on circuit performance and power
- Experience working at the digital-analog boundary including specification of DAC/ADC interfaces, calibration state machines, and integration with mixed-signal simulation environments
- Demonstrated technical leadership with ability to mentor engineers, drive architectural decisions, and deliver silicon on aggressive schedules in startup or high-growth environments
- Experience with optical/electrical interconnects (VCSEL, EML), chiplet D2D interfaces, DRAM PHYs, or HBM memory interfaces a plus
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