Digital Accelerator IC Design Trainee Program (all genders)

The program is rooted in the Bavarian Chip Design Center (BCDC), a strategic initiative supported by the Free State of Bavaria. BCDC aims to strengthen the regional semiconductor industry and develop skilled talent in integrated circuit (IC) design. With the increasing demand for chip designers in Europe, especially in Bavaria, there has never been a better time to join this future oriented field.

• Introduction to Digital IC Design: You will receive a comprehensive introduction to Digital IC Design under the guidance of experienced engineers and researchers.
• Practical Design Experience: You will gain hands-on experience in translating system and functional specifications into micro-architectures and implementing digital hardware blocks in RTL.
• SystemVerilog and RTL Design: You will develop practical skills in SystemVerilog and learn to design key accelerator components such as datapaths, control logic, and memory subsystems.
• Accelerator Design and Optimization: You will gain hands-on experience in neural-network accelerator architecture, RTL verification and system integration, while exploring architectural and implementation trade-offs for optimized power, performance, and area (PPA).
• Research-Oriented Development: You will apply your skills to an integrated accelerator and explore architectural trade-offs and optimization opportunities.
• Experience with EDA Tools: You will gain hands-on experience with industry-grade EDA tools.
• Knowledge of SystemVerilog: You will become familiar with SystemVerilog and learn how to build processor systems and hardware accelerators using the RISC-V architecture.
• Professional Preparation: You will build a strong foundation for a career in digital IC design and hardware accelerator development.

• Theoretical Experience: You will gain expertise in digital IC and hardware accelerator design, from microarchitecture and RTL to verification and low-power PPA optimization.
• Practical Training: We will guide you in translating theoretical concepts into practical hardware designs and developing critical thinking to evaluate real-world design trade-offs.
• Supportive Environment: We take your goals and needs seriously by providing consistent guidance and support through assigned mentors and regular feedback sessions to enhance your experience.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with flexible working hours.
• Unique Opportunities: We offer you access to a unique network of experts and partners in research and industry, insights into innovative technologies and state-of-the-art design methodologies.
• R&D Experience: Get a glimpse into one of Europe’s leading R&D IC design facilities.
• Professional Growth: Enjoy valuable work experience at Fraunhofer, Europe’s largest organization for applied research and a top-rated employer.

The position is initially limited to 6 months, starting in April 2027. The weekly working time is 39 hours. Appointment, remuneration and social security benefits based on the public-sector collective wage agreement (TVöD).

We value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity.