About Fondazione Chips-IT

The Foundation “Italian Center for the Design of Semiconductor Integrated Circuits,” also known as the Chips-IT Foundation, is a nonprofit research and technology organization under the supervision of the Ministries of Industry.

The Foundation is Italy's first RTO (Research and Technology Organization) vertically focused on semiconductor research and stands as a center of excellence in frontier research on semiconductor design, as well as a pivotal center of the Italian semiconductor ecosystem and expertise.

Missions of the Foundation:

• Promote the design and development of integrated circuits
• Strengthen the system of professional training in the field of microelectronics
• Ensure the establishment of a network of universities, research centers and enterprises that fosters innovation and technology transfer in the field

The Chips-IT Foundation is seeking seeking Junior Researchers to contribute to cutting-edge research and development initiatives centered on digital design and RISC-V architectures. The project focuses on developing advanced digital processors, accelerators, and custom SoCs based on the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) as well as dedicated accelerators.

This role will involve participating in the design, optimization, and verification of high-performance, low-power digital systems for applications in next-generation computing platforms, IoT, and embedded systems. Junior Researchers will have the opportunity to learn and apply novel design methodologies, verification techniques, and hardware-software co-design strategies to support innovation in the RISC-V ecosystem. The work can be carried out either in Pavia or in Bologna.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support research and development activities related to digital designs, including processors, accelerators, and SoCs based on the RISC-V architecture.
• Assist in the design, implementation, and verification of digital building blocks (Processors, Accelerators, Memory and Communication Subsystems, etc.) for high-performance, low-power systems.
• Collaborate with senior team members and contribute to technical discussions, design reviews, and documentation.
• Participate in integration and testing phases on FPGA or silicon platforms.
• (Optional) Contribute to dissemination activities including technical reports, academic publications, or conference presentations.

• Master’s degree (or close to completion) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field with a focus on digital design and processor architectures (Mandatory).
• Fundamental knowledge of hardware description languages (HDL) such as Verilog or VHDL, and digital design tools for synthesis, simulation, and verification (Mandatory).
• Basic familiarity with RISC-V architecture and interest in custom extensions or hardware-software co-design.
• Understanding of FPGA-based prototyping and exposure to ASIC design flows.
• Eagerness to learn and grow in the fields of digital design and processor architecture.
• Good analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Team spirit and motivation to contribute to innovative research and collaborative projects.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Competitive compensation and contract type, to be negotiated based on qualifications and experience
• Possibility to enter into a PhD conjugating your job with a research program that will grant you the PhD title.
• Lunch tickets
• Private health care coverage depending on your role and contract
• Structured growth path, with ongoing access to training and updates
• Networking opportunities with industry-leading professionals
• International environment
• Hybrid work policy
• Tax deductions: Candidates from abroad, comprising Italian citizens, who have carried scientific research activity abroad and meet specific requirements, may be entitled to a taxable income deduction up to 90% for a period of 6 to 13 years

In conformità con le normative vigenti, il range retributivo lordo annuo previsto per questa posizione è compreso tra Euro 25.000,00 e 55.000,00. L'ampiezza del range è finalizzata a valutare candidature con diversi livelli di seniority; l'offerta finale sarà strettamente commisurata all'effettiva esperienza e alle competenze del candidato, e sarà integrata dai benefit aziendali previsti per il ruolo.