About Unconventional
Since 2022, AI has entered the mainstream, reshaping entire industries from education and software development to fundamental consumer behaviors. This revolution has created an unprecedented demand for computation - a demand that is now fundamentally limited by energy, not just in the datacenter, but at a global scale.
At Unconventional, our mission is to solve this. We are rethinking computing from the ground up to build a new foundation for AI that is 1000x more efficient. We're doing this by exploiting the rich physics of semiconductors, mapping neural networks directly to the device physics rather than relying on layers of inefficient abstraction.
The Role
As a Member of Technical Staff, you will be a foundational member of our small, multi-disciplinary R&D team. This isn't a role with a predefined checklist; it's an opportunity to help define the "what" and the "how."
We are looking for 'first principles' thinkers with deep understanding of the fundamentals of analog mixed-signal design who are excited to tackle the hardest, most ambiguous technical challenges at the intersection of AI, physics, and computer architecture. You will be responsible for driving invention, prototyping, and validation of the core components of our novel computing platform.
Responsibilities
- Design & Architecture: Define, architect, and implement complex analog mixed-signal circuits from specification to GDSII in deep sub-micron CMOS technologies
- Core Block Ownership: Take ownership of the full design cycle for critical IP blocks.
- Verification & Simulation: Conduct comprehensive pre-layout and post-layout verification. Perform exhaustive analysis for PVT variations, noise, mismatch (Monte Carlo), stability, and reliability (EM/IR).
- Mixed-Signal Integration: Collaborate with digital design teams to define interfaces, conduct top-level mixed-signal simulation, and ensure seamless integration of analog and digital blocks.
- Layout Supervision: Define detailed floorplans and critical layout guidelines for high-performance blocks, and work closely with layout engineers to ensure optimal parasitic, matching, and signal integrity performance.
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Master's degree (MSEE) or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of hands-on, full-cycle Analog/Mixed-Signal IC design experience, resulting in successfully taped-out and characterized silicon.
- Circuit Expertise: Deep understanding of transistor-level circuit design, device physics, and noise/mismatch mechanisms in CMOS processes.
- Scripting: Proficiency with scripting languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for automation of design flows and data post-processing.
Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)
- Experience with designing circuits in modern process nodes (22nm, 12nm and newer)
- Deep understanding of device physics
- Experience with behavioral modeling of analog circuits and impairments for system-level verification (e.g., in Verilog, Python, C++, MATLAB)
Why Join Us?
- The Mission: Redefine computing for the next 50 years by solving the fundamental energy limitation of AI at a global scale.
- The Impact: Shape the company's future as a foundational team member. Enjoy massive ownership and an outsized opportunity to drive change.
- The Challenge: Dive into deeply complex, intellectually stimulating, and unsolved problems at the cutting edge of multiple, converging fields.
- The Perks: A comprehensive package including best-in-class health benefits, 401k matching, truly unlimited PTO, and complimentary meals in our Palo Alto office.
