Senior Mixed-Signal IC Engineer in Cardiff

Company Overview

Novomorphic is a new semiconductor design venture backed by Cadence Design Systems, Welsh Government, and CSA Catapult.

We have been established to build critical semiconductor design capability in the UK.

Our focus is advanced integrated circuit and electronic system design, with particular strength in low-power intelligent hardware, edge AI, digital design, analogue and mixed-signal systems, and compound semiconductor technologies.

We are building Novomorphic from the ground up.

That means every person who joins us will help shape the company, its technical capability, and its culture.

We value technical excellence, ownership, curiosity, collaboration, and practical delivery.

The Opportunity

Novomorphic is looking for a Senior Mixed-Signal IC Engineer to create high-performance analogue and mixed-signal integrated circuits for advanced semiconductor systems.

This is a senior technical role for an engineer who can lead complex mixed-signal design work, guide layout activity, support chip bring-up, and mentor other engineers while staying close to detailed circuit implementation.

You will work on high-speed ADCs, DACs, serial data interface paths, PLLs, wide-band amplifiers, biasing, references, regulators, and related analogue and mixed-signal blocks in advanced bulk and SOI CMOS technologies.

Role Overview

As a Senior Mixed-Signal IC Engineer, you will help develop high-performance analogue and mixed-signal IC blocks, with a strong focus on high-speed data converters and supporting signal-chain circuitry.

You will work at architectural and transistor level, using sound analogue fundamentals, careful simulation, layout-aware design practice, lab characterisation insight, and clear technical documentation to deliver robust designs.

You will also provide technical leadership across design and layout activities.

What You Will Do

• Analogue and Mixed-Signal IC Design
• Design and implement high-performance, high-speed core ADC and DAC blocks.
• Develop serial data interface paths and related mixed-signal signal-chain circuitry.
• Design related analogue and mixed-signal blocks such as PLLs, delta-sigma ADCs, DACs, wide-band amplifiers, low-voltage data serialisers, bandgaps, bias circuits, and LDOs.
• Work on advanced bulk and SOI CMOS technologies, including technology nodes down to 22 nm CMOS and beyond.
• Architecture, Simulation and Optimisation
• Develop high-speed ADCs at both architectural and transistor level.
• Apply strong switched-capacitor design practice, transient-noise analysis, and linearity optimisation techniques.
• Support tuning and calibration approaches for mixed-signal blocks.
• Use best-practice analogue and mixed-signal design tools and flows to produce efficient designs that meet specification.
• Layout, Bring-Up and Debug
• Supervise layout activities and provide clear technical direction for sensitive analogue, mixed-signal, high-speed, and matching-critical blocks.
• Contribute to chip bring-up, debugging, lab characterisation, and performance analysis.
• Document design choices, simulation results, layout constraints, test findings, and risks clearly.
• Lead design reviews, mentor engineers, and help build strong mixed-signal design practice across the team.
• What You Will Develop
• High-speed and high-resolution ADCs and DACs for advanced semiconductor systems.
• Mixed-signal interface paths and supporting signal-chain circuitry.
• PLLs, delta-sigma ADCs, wide-band amplifiers, serialisers, bandgaps, bias circuits, LDOs, and related analogue blocks.
• Layout-aware design approaches for high-speed, high-accuracy, matching-critical, and noise-sensitive circuits.
• Practical bring-up, debug, and characterisation knowledge that improves Novomorphic's mixed-signal design capability.
• What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a senior mixed-signal Engineer with deep analogue fundamentals, proven high-speed ADC experience, and the ability to lead complex technical work in a commercial semiconductor environment.

You should be comfortable moving between architecture, transistor-level design, simulation, layout constraints, lab characterisation, debugging, and technical communication.

Essential Requirements

• Master\'s degree in electronics engineering, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 10+ years\' experience as an analogue circuit Engineer.
• Solid fundamentals in analogue and mixed-signal design, including relevant tools and flows.
• Experience leading high-calibre analogue and mixed-signal teams.
• Experience in the design of high-resolution, high-speed ADCs.
• Expertise in switched-capacitor circuits, transient noise, and linearity optimisation.
• Deep understanding of tuning and calibration of mixed-signal blocks.
• Experience in lab characterisation and debugging of mixed-signal blocks.
• Experience with technologies down to 22 nm CMOS and beyond.
• Good knowledge of high-speed layout design and matching.
• Strong written, presentation, and general communication skills.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with time-interleaved ADCs.
• Proficiency in System Verilog, real-number modelling, and Verilog-A.
• Experience using Cadence mixed-signal design tools.
• Experience mentoring junior staff.
• Experience working across analogue IC, digital, layout, test, and systems engineering boundaries.
• Tools and Environments

Relevant tools will depend on the project and technology platform.

Experience with analogue and mixed-signal IC design, behavioural modelling, simulation, layout review, and lab characterisation environments will be valuable.

• Analogue and mixed-signal IC design and simulation tools.
• Cadence mixed-signal design environments where relevant.
• Behavioural modelling using Verilog-A, System Verilog, and real-number modelling where useful.
• Laboratory characterisation and debugging workflows for mixed-signal ICs.
• We Value Engineers Who
• Take ownership and follow through.
• Enjoy solving difficult technical problems.
• Are curious, practical, and willing to learn quickly.
• Can work independently without disappearing into a silo.
• Collaborate well with people from different disciplines.
• Communicate clearly, especially when raising risks or blockers.
• Are comfortable in a start-up environment where priorities can move quickly.
• Want to build real semiconductor capability, not just write papers.
• What Success Looks Like
• You produce robust, well-documented analogue and mixed-signal designs that meet technical requirements.
• You use simulation, layout-aware judgement, and lab evidence to make strong engineering decisions.
• You guide design and layout activity effectively and help raise the technical standard of the team.
• You identify risks early and communicate trade-offs clearly.
• You help build Novomorphic\'s mixed-signal IC design capability through practical delivery and strong engineering judgement.

Why Join Novomorphic?

This is an opportunity to help build a serious UK semiconductor design company from the ground up.

You will work on technically demanding analogue and mixed-signal systems with clear commercial relevance.

You will have the chance to shape design flows, influence technical direction, mentor engineers, and deliver real semiconductor products rather than working only on isolated research activity.

Benefits

Novomorphic's benefits package includes

• 28 days\' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• Life assurance
• Private medical insurance
• Additional benefits tailored to employee needs
• Location and Working Model

Location and working model are TBC.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK or be eligible for sponsorship, where applicable.

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