Company Overview
Ambiq is on a mission to enable intelligence everywhere — powering the AI edge revolution with the world's lowest-power semiconductor solutions.
Built on our proprietary sub- and near-threshold technology, our chips deliver multi-fold improvements in energy efficiency without costly process scaling. Since 2010, we've shipped over 300 million units to customers building smarter wearables, medical devices, IoT products, and AI-powered edge applications.
Our cross-functional teams span design, research, development, production, marketing, sales, and operations across Austin, Hsinchu, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Singapore. We move fast, tackle hard problems, and create space for people to grow through complex, meaningful work that shapes the future of technology.
We're looking for self-motivated, creative problem-solvers who are eager to push technological limits and make a real impact in energy efficiency.
At Ambiq, we live by five values: Innovate. Collaborate. Focus. Learn. Achieve.
If that's you, join us — the intelligence everywhere revolution starts here.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Design for Test (DFT) Intern to join our SoC team and contribute to scan and MBIST implementation and verification for our ultra-low power chips. In this role, you’ll gain hands-on experience with industry standard DFT tools and methodologies, learn how to improve manufacturing test coverage and test quality, and work alongside experienced engineers designing edge AI products. This internship is an excellent opportunity to apply what you’ve learned in class, explore industry-standard tools, and see how your work connects to the technology powering everyday devices.
Responsibilities
As a DFT Intern, you will:
- Support low power DFT implementation and verification for SoC designs
- Assist with scan insertion, scan chain verification for physical design modules
- Assist with MBIST insertion and verification for embedded memories
- Analyze DFT rule checking results and help resolve design and testability issues
- Support test coverage analysis and identify opportunities for coverage improvement
- Develop and maintain scripts (e.g., Tcl, Python, Shell) to automate recurring tasks and improve engineering productivity
- Document methodologies, results, and key learnings, and present progress to your mentor and the broader team
- Collaborate with RTL, DFT, DV, and physical design engineers to debug implementation, coverage, and timing issues
Qualifications
- Currently pursuing a B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- Completed coursework in several of the following areas:
- Digital logic design
- VLSI design / ASIC design
- CMOS circuits
- Computer architecture (preferred)
- Familiarity with Verilog, SystemVerilog or VHDL and fundamental digital design concepts such as timing, clocking, reset, and pipelining
- Comfortable working in a Linux/UNIX environment
- Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills
- Good communication skills and a collaborative mindset
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience (coursework or project or internship) with industry-standard EDA tools for:
- Scan insertion or ATPG
- MBIST, memory repair, or embedded memory testing
- ASIC design, or synthesis
- Basic understanding of DFT concepts such as scan, ATPG, MBIST, fault coverage, and memory repair
- Exposure to industry standard EDA tools
- Scripting experience in Tcl, Python, or Shell for flow automation
- Familiarity with fault models such as stuck-at, transition, bridging, memory faults
- Understanding of low power design concepts such as multiple power domains, retention, or clock gating
Skills Required
- Currently pursuing a B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
- Coursework in digital logic design, VLSI or ASIC design, and CMOS circuits
- Familiarity with Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL
- Understanding of fundamental digital design concepts, including timing, clocking, reset, and pipelining
- Comfort working in a Linux or UNIX environment
- Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills
- Good communication skills and a collaborative mindset
- Coursework in computer architecture
- Experience with industry-standard EDA tools for scan insertion or ATPG
- Experience with MBIST, memory repair, or embedded memory testing
- Experience with ASIC design or synthesis
- Basic understanding of DFT concepts, including scan, ATPG, MBIST, fault coverage, and memory repair
- Scripting experience in Tcl, Python, or Shell
- Familiarity with stuck-at, transition, bridging, and memory fault models
- Understanding of low-power design concepts, including multiple power domains, retention, or clock gating
Ambiq Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as company-paid for medical, dental, and vision, with added mental-health support, an Employee Assistance Program, and HSA/FSA options. These elements indicate strong breadth and employer cost-sharing in core healthcare.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) plan with a defined company match is specified, alongside basic life, AD&D, and disability coverage. This combination points to meaningful support for long-term savings and financial protection.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes PTO, a robust paid-holiday schedule plus a floating holiday, and a year-end company shutdown. These provisions suggest above-baseline time away from work.
Ambiq Insights
What We Do
Ambiq® enables intelligence (AI and beyond) everywhere by delivering the lowest-power semiconductor solutions for battery-powered edge devices. As a pioneer in ultra-low power SoCs, Ambiq empowers wearables, IoT, smart home, healthcare, and industrial products with always-on, energy-efficient intelligence. Backed by our SPOT® technology and global innovation leadership, Ambiq is shaping the future of edge AI.
Why Work With Us
Direct influence on silicon architecture Smaller, high-impact teams Hardware/software co-design in real time Faster technical decision cycles Visible ownership at Staff & Director level Austin-based collaboration culture
Ambiq Offices
OnSite Workspace
Building silicon and embedded AI systems requires tight collaboration across firmware, hardware, validation, and architecture teams. We believe the hardest engineering problems are solved through direct, daily collaboration.
