How to become a digital design engineer

How to become a Digital Design Engineer

Becoming a digital design engineer requires a strong foundation in electrical engineering, digital logic, and hardware description languages (HDLs). Here’s an overview of the pathway to the career:

Bachelor’s Degree
The vast majority of digital design engineers hold a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, electronics engineering technology, or computer science with a focus on hardware / software integration.

Key topics covered in these undergraduate programs include:

• Digital Logic Design
• Microprocessors and Microcontrollers
• Computer Architecture
• VLSI Design (Very-Large-Scale Integration)
• FPGA and ASIC Design
• Signal Processing
• Embedded Systems
• Programming (C, C++, Python)

Master’s Degree (Optional but Beneficial)
While a master’s degree isn’t always required, it can enhance job prospects, especially for positions in advanced design roles or research. Popular options include a master’s in electrical engineering, computer engineering, VLSI design, or embedded systems.

Advanced topics addressed in master’s programs include:

• Advanced Digital Circuit Design
• High-Speed Digital Design
• Low-Power Electronics
• FPGA / ASIC Architecture
• Semiconductor Physics
• Quantum Computing (for advanced hardware engineers)

Learn Hardware Description Languages (HDLs)
Master Verilog, VHDL, and SystemVerilog – essential for designing digital circuits. Learn SystemC for high-level modeling. Practise on FPGA boards like Xilinx Zynq and Intel DE10-Nano and simulation tools like ModelSim, QuestaSim, or Vivado.

Hands-On Experience
Work on FPGA projects, implementing state machines, ALUs, or processors. Contribute to open-source VLSI projects (e.g., OpenCores, RISC-V). Complete internships / co-ops at semiconductor companies like Intel, NVIDIA, or Qualcomm.

Become familiar with the tools that are essential for various aspects of digital design engineering:

• FPGA Development – Xilinx Vivado, Intel Quartus
• ASIC Design and Verification – Cadence, Synopsys, Siemens EDA
• Scripting – Python, Perl, Tcl for automation

Develop Problem-Solving and Debugging Skills
Learn debugging techniques using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG tools. Work with testbenches and simulation tools to verify designs. Join university labs or research groups working on FPGAs / VLSI. Take online FPGA / ASIC courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX. Work on personal projects such as designing a simple CPU or an image processing unit.

Build a Strong Portfolio and Resume
Showcase projects on GitHub – include FPGA/ASIC design projects. Write about design experiences and challenges in a blog or LinkedIn articles. Highlight internships, coursework, and personal projects.

Apply for Digital Design Engineering Jobs
Look for entry-level roles like FPGA Engineer, RTL Design Engineer, or ASIC Engineer. Apply at semiconductor companies, defense contractors, AI hardware startups, and embedded systems firms. For a complete list of potential employers, please see the What is the workplace of a Digital Design Engineer like? section in the career overview.

Find jobs on company career pages (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Qualcomm, Apple), job portals (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor), and FPGA and hardware forums (e.g., EDAboard, Xilinx Forums).

Keep Learning and Specialize
Stay updated on emerging technologies like AI hardware accelerators, RISC-V processors, and quantum computing. Consider specializing in one of the areas described in the What does a Digital Design Engineer do? section in the career overview.

Certifications
There are several certifications that can help digital design engineers demonstrate expertise in specific tools, design methodologies, or technologies. Here are some popular ones:

FPGA Certifications
FPGA (field-programmable gate array) design is a critical skill for digital design engineers, and several certifications can validate proficiency in FPGA design.

• Xilinx FPGA Certification – Offered by Xilinx, one of the leading FPGA manufacturers, this certification covers skills related to FPGA development, design using Verilog / VHDL, and Xilinx Vivado tools.
• Intel FPGA Certification – This certification is offered by Intel (formerly Altera), which provides a range of FPGA design tools like Quartus. It recognizes proficiency in Intel FPGA development and the tools used for FPGA-based design and simulation.

ASIC and VLSI Design Certifications
For engineers interested in ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) or VLSI (very-large-scale integration) design, certifications focusing on these fields are valuable.

• Cadence Certifications – Cadence provides several certifications for VLSI design and related tools, such as Cadence Virtuoso for analog and digital design, Allegro for PCB design, and OrCAD for schematic capture. These certifications show proficiency in industry-standard EDA (electronic design automation) tools used in ASIC and SoC design.
• Siemens EDA Certifications – These programs provide training and certification in VLSI design, analog mixed-signal design, and FPGA / ASIC verification tools. Certifications include QuestaSim (for simulation and verification) and Calibre Design Solutions (for design rule checking and layout verification).

Embedded Systems Design Certifications
These certifications are targeted at engineers working on embedded systems, which often require digital design expertise.

• Certified Embedded Systems Engineer – Offered by various technical organizations, this certification covers embedded system design, including hardware and software integration. It focuses on areas such as real-time systems, microcontroller programming, and hardware / software co-design.
• Certified LabVIEW Developer (CLD) – LabVIEW is often used for designing embedded systems and FPGA-based testing. This certification, offered by National Instruments (NI), ensures proficiency in using LabVIEW for digital hardware control and test setups.

General EDA (Electronic Design Automation) Tools Certifications
For engineers using EDA tools for simulation, layout, and verification, certifications from popular EDA software providers can be beneficial.

• Synopsys Training and Certifications – Synopsys offers training and certifications for digital designers in the use of their EDA tools like Design Compiler (for synthesis), PrimeTime (for timing analysis), and HSPICE (for analog / mixed-signal simulation).
• Siemens EDA Certifications – These are certifications for various tools that help in digital verification, signal integrity analysis, and layout generation.

General Digital Design and Electronics Certifications
These more general certifications can be useful for solidifying a broad understanding of digital circuit design.

• IPC-2221 & IPC-2222 PCB Design Certifications – These certifications are relevant for engineers involved in PCB (printed circuit board) design for digital systems, ensuring adherence to industry standards for creating reliable, manufacturable designs.
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) – This is an entry-level information technology certification issued by networking hardware company Cisco. It is particularly relevant for engineers designing hardware for networking and communications.
• RISC-V Training and Certification – This program and credential focus on RISC-V architecture and custom digital design for open-source hardware.

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Certifications section, the following organizations also support the digital design engineering community:

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) – IEEE is one of the largest and most well-known professional organizations for engineers. It offers a wide range of resources, including technical papers, conferences, standards, and professional development opportunities for engineers in digital design, electronics, and computer engineering. Among the IEEE’s societies and technical areas that are relevant to digital design engineers are IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (CASS), focusing on circuits and systems design, including digital circuits and VLSI; IEEE Computer Society (CS), covering digital design, computer architecture, embedded systems, and more; and IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS), suitable for those working on signal processing within digital systems.
• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) – ACM is a leading organization for computer science professionals, including those in digital design, embedded systems, and hardware engineering. ACM special interest groups (SIGs) relevant to digital design engineers include SIGDA (Special Interest Group on Design Automation), focusing on EDA tools, VLSI design, and digital circuit design; SIGBED (Special Interest Group on Embedded Systems), covering embedded system design, hardware / software co-design, and real-time systems.
• VLSI Society – The VLSI Society is dedicated to very-large-scale integration (VLSI) design and computer-aided design (CAD) tools. It offers resources for engineers working in digital design, ASIC design, FPGA design, and system-on-chip (SoC) development.
• Society of Digital Engineering (SDE) – The Society of Digital Engineering offers a platform for professionals working in digital design and embedded systems. It supports activities in digital signal processing, FPGA development, digital electronics, and computer systems.
• Electronic Design Automation Consortium (EDAC) – EDAC is an organization that represents the electronic design automation (EDA) industry. It is a great resource for engineers involved in ASIC, FPGA, and PCB design, offering networking, educational opportunities, and industry standards.
• International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) – SPIE focuses on optics and photonics but also includes digital design engineers involved in optical communication systems, digital signal processing for optics, and imaging technologies.
• International Association for Computer Science and Information Technology (IACSIT) – IACSIT promotes research and education in computer science, electronics, and digital system design. It hosts conferences and produces journals on embedded systems, hardware design, and software-hardware integration.