Digital Design Lead

Whiteley
4 days ago
Create job alert

Digital IC Design Lead
Location: Fareham, Hampshire
Salary: Up to £87,000 + bonus
Contract: Permanent

We’re recruiting for a Digital IC Design Lead on behalf of a high-growth semiconductor organisation operating at the forefront of advanced electronics. This is a senior technical leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape next-generation digital ICs used in safety-critical and high-performance applications.

You’ll lead the digital development activity across complex ASIC and MCU products, combining hands-on technical oversight with team leadership, project delivery and cross-functional collaboration across global engineering teams.

The Role
This position leads all digital IC development activities, from translating product requirements into robust digital architectures, through design, verification and validation, to silicon delivery.

You’ll manage and mentor a team of IC engineers while working closely with system architecture, software, sensor and analogue teams locally, and backend, test and reliability teams internationally.

Key Responsibilities

Define digital requirements derived from product and system specifications
Lead digital architecture, design, implementation, verification and validation activities
Drive development of next-generation ICs and MCUs to high reliability and safety standards
Provide technical direction to improve performance, power efficiency and cost
Manage digital IP development and third-party IP integration
Oversee resource planning, project schedules, budgets and delivery milestones
Mentor, coach and technically develop IC design engineers
Represent the digital team in EDA tool selection and methodology decisions
Collaborate across global engineering teams to ensure seamless design flow
Support silicon debug, failure analysis and validation activities Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential:

Degree-qualified (BEng or MEng) in Electronics, Engineering or a related discipline
5+ years’ experience in digital or mixed-signal IC design (ASIC preferred)
Proven experience leading or managing engineers or technical projects
Strong knowledge of the full digital IC design lifecycle from specification to silicon
Experience with low-power design and power management techniques
Solid understanding of EDA tools and digital design flows through to timing sign-off
Knowledge of DfT, DfM, silicon debug and failure analysis methodologies
Strong communication skills with the ability to lead in complex, ambiguous environments Desirable:

Mixed-signal design exposure
Experience with safety-critical or high-reliability designs (e.g. ISO 26262)
Familiarity with full front-end and back-end ASIC flows
Knowledge of IP maturity models and IP supply chain management
Python scripting or automation experience
Experience using tools such as JIRA and Confluence Why Apply?

Salary up to £87,000 plus annual bonus
Senior technical leadership role with real influence over future products
Opportunity to work on complex, next-generation semiconductor designs
Hybrid working and modern office environment
Strong benefits package including pension, private medical and dental cover
Clear long-term career development within a growing semiconductor business For more information or to apply, contact:
Lewis Phillips
(phone number removed)
(url removed)

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Head Of IC Design

Footwear Materials & Product Developer

Stress Team Leader

Composite Design Engineer

Aerostructure Cost Engineer

Injection Moulding Setter

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

How to Write a Materials Science Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

Materials science underpins many of the UK’s most advanced industries, from aerospace and automotive to energy, semiconductors, construction, defence and advanced manufacturing. Employers rely on materials scientists and engineers to develop, test and optimise materials that meet increasingly demanding performance, safety and sustainability requirements. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Materials science job adverts often receive limited applications or applicants whose experience does not match the role’s technical requirements. At the same time, experienced materials professionals ignore adverts that feel vague, overly academic or disconnected from real industrial challenges. In most cases, the issue is not a lack of talent — it is the clarity and quality of the job advert. Materials scientists are evidence-driven, detail-oriented and highly selective. A poorly written job ad signals weak technical understanding and unclear expectations. A well-written one signals credibility, purpose and serious intent. This guide explains how to write a materials science job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and strengthens your employer brand.

Maths for Materials Science Jobs: The Only Topics You Actually Need (& How to Learn Them)

If you are applying for materials science jobs in the UK, maths can feel like a hidden barrier. Job ads might mention “strong analytical skills” or “ability to interpret data” without saying what that actually means on the job. Here’s the reality: most materials roles do not require advanced pure maths. What they do require is confidence with a small set of practical topics that show up repeatedly in: mechanical testing & failure analysis processing & heat treatment phase diagrams & alloy design diffusion, corrosion & degradation characterisation data interpretation quality, metrology, validation & uncertainty materials selection & design trade-offs This guide focuses on the only maths topics most materials professionals keep using, plus a 6-week learning plan, portfolio projects & resources.

Neurodiversity in Materials Science Careers: Turning Different Thinking into a Superpower

Materials science is everywhere – in batteries, semiconductors, medical implants, composites for aircraft, sustainable packaging & more. It’s a field built on curiosity, experimentation, precision & the ability to link microscopic structure to real-world performance. In other words, it’s a brilliant match for many neurodivergent brains. If you’re living with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told that your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too chaotic” for a scientific career. In reality, many of the traits that made school or traditional office work difficult can be serious assets in materials science & engineering. This guide is written for UK job seekers exploring materials science careers. We’ll look at: What neurodiversity means in a materials science context How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to materials roles Practical workplace adjustments you can ask for under UK law How to talk about your neurodivergence in applications & interviews By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in materials science – & how to turn “different thinking” into a genuine superpower.