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Cybersecurity, Software, Cloud Computing, Network Security

Senior ASIC Design Engineer

CaliforniaHybridFull TimeSenior$156,400–$253,000 /yrPosted 25 days agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

  • ASIC
  • SystemVerilog
  • RTL
  • micro-architecture
  • datapath
  • digital logic
  • PCIe
  • Ethernet
  • DDR
  • IP blocks

Nice to have

  • networking
  • cybersecurity
  • search-algorithm accelerators
  • formal verification
  • silicon validation
  • lab bring-up

Role summary

Palo Alto Networks is seeking a Senior ASIC Design Engineer to join their cybersecurity team. This role involves owning module design from specification through silicon bring-up, focusing on delivering digital logic for next-generation firewall platforms. Responsibilities include writing design specifications, designing SystemVerilog RTL, verifying blocks using various methods, collaborating with verification and physical-design teams, and integrating AI tools into hardware design workflows. The position requires 10+ years of ASIC design experience with a proven track record of shipping chips to mass production, expert SystemVerilog skills, and proficiency in scripting languages. Networking or cybersecurity domain knowledge is preferred.

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

About the Role

Join our ASIC team and help deliver the digital logic that powers our next-generation firewall platforms. You will own module design from specification through silicon bring-up, working with world-class verification and physical-design engineers to hit aggressive performance, power, and schedule goals.


What You’ll Do
  • Write clear design and micro-architecture specifications.
  • Design SystemVerilog RTL that meets area, performance, and power targets.
  • Verify your blocks with simulation, emulation, formal methods, and silicon bring-up.
  • Collaborate with verification engineers to debug complex scenarios, close coverage, and add design-for-debug features.
  • Partner with physical-design teams: review synthesis/timing reports, rewrite RTL to close critical paths, and consult on floor-planning for congestion/routability.
  • Innovate: pilot AI-driven design or verification flows that cut schedule risk.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • BS in EE, CE, or CS (MSEE or equivalent military experience preferred).
  • 10+ years' front-end ASIC design ownership, shipping 2+ chips to mass production.
  • Expert SystemVerilog RTL skills.
  • Proven track record of selecting, integrating, and configuring complex IP blocks for high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, Ethernet, or DDR.
  • Scripting proficiency (Python, C/C++, Perl, bash or tcsh).
  • Demonstrated strength in:
    • Defining micro-architecture from high-level requirements.
    • Datapath design expertise for intricate synch/asynch digital logic.
    • Debugging across simulation, emulation, and silicon.
    • Analyzing timing, power, and area reports and driving fixes.
  • Demonstrated proficiency or active experience integrating modern AI tools (e.g., LLM coding assistants, automated test generators, or ML-enhanced EDA features) into hardware design, scripting, or verification workflows.
  • Excellent leadership, collaboration, and written/verbal communication.


Preferred / Nice-to-Have

  • Networking or cybersecurity domain knowledge.
  • Experience with search-algorithm accelerators.
  • Formal-verification ownership.
  • Hands-on silicon validation and lab bring-up.

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here.

$156,400.00 - $253,000.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at accommodations@paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or other legally protected characteristics.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship?: Yes

Sample Palo Alto Networks interview questions

  • 1

    What are the key components and considerations in designing a real-time newsfeed?

    system designmedium
  • 2

    What maximum bandwidth does a switched Fibre Channel network support?

    technicalmedium
  • 3

    Pacific and Atlantic Water Flow Calculate water flow from a matrix to the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Input: heights = [[2,1],[1,2]] Output: [[0,0],[0,1],[1,0],[1,1]] Explanation: All cells can flow to both oceans because water can move to adjacent cells of equal or lower height or directly off the edges.

    technicalmedium
  • 4

    Aggressive Cows Maximize the minimum distance between aggressive cows in stalls. Input: stalls = [0,4,3,7,10,9], cows = 3 Output: 4 Explanation: Placing the cows at positions 0, 4, and 10 yields a maximum possible minimum distance of 4 between any two cows.

    technicalmedium
  • 5

    What series of events take place when you type traceroute and hit enter?

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