Research Scientist – AI for Digital Circuit Design

Machine Learning, Hardware Design

Full Time

Location flexible (Tokyo, Zurich)

Sony AI is seeking a highly motivated, visionary Research Scientist with deep expertise in Digital Circuit Design, digital circuitry for image processing algorithms, and Machine Learning / AI to join our extraordinary research team. This role offers an outstanding opportunity to lead the integration of AI technologies in revolutionising methodologies for crafting digital chips.

We are looking for someone with a digital chip design background who has already acquired machine learning experience and is interested in advancing the emerging field of AI for chip design. Alternatively, we are also open to researchers with a machine learning and AI background who already have experience with research questions in digital chip design and EDA, physical simulations of hardware devices, or algorithms for image sensor hardware.

Join our team of renowned scientists exploring AI's impact on human creativity and semiconductor progress. In this role, you will lead and contribute to our project in AI for digital chip design, bridging the gap between traditional circuit design and pioneering machine learning.

We seek individuals who are bold enough to operate on the forefront and develop solutions that will improve the lives of individuals worldwide. So, if you want to make the world say wow, let's talk.

Roles and Responsibilities

•  Lead AI research on digital circuit development, applying LLMs and AI algorithms for image sensor processing.
•  Pioneer new methodologies for integrating AI/ML models into traditional EDA workflows
•  Develop novel machine learning algorithms specifically tailored for digital design challenges across front-end and back-end chip design, for example
  - mapping and routing,
  - early predictors of power-performance and area,
  - clock-tree prediction and synthesis,
  - RTL simulation,
  - graph-based circuit modelling,
  - image sensor quality/yield assessment.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Educational background in electrical engineering, machine learning, optimization, computer science, applied physics, or related field
• Strong proficiency in either circuit design OR machine learning (we welcome experts from both domains)
• Experience with digital circuit design
• Familiarity with basic software development workflows: Git version control, GitLab/GitHub collaboration
• Good working knowledge of python
• Excellent oral and written English

​Preferred qualifications

• Research experience (PhD) and published studies and/or prior exposure to the semiconductor industry
• Experience with floor-planning and layout algorithms, hardware-design languages, or proficiency with industry-standard EDA tools, digital design and verification is a plus
• Expertise in machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and JAX.
• Knowledge of specialised ML areas, e.g. one or multiple LLMs for code generation, agentic LLMs, GNNs, RL, vision models and low-level image algorithms, optimization, physics-based simulation, etc.
• Excellent programming skills (e.g. HDL, Verilog, python)
• Willingness to occasionally travel to Japan (when based in Switzerland)
• Willingness to occasionally travel to Switzerland (when based in Tokyo)
• Working knowledge of Japanese is a plus

Working Location

Location flexible (Tokyo, Zurich)