ASIC Engineer
Afference
ASIC Engineer
Afference
Haptic neural interfaces for digital touch
About Our Work
We are neuroscientists who build ground-breaking technology for the spatial computing era. We stimulate nerves to create artificial tactile sensations, creating new, more meaningful connections to the user for notifications, 3D digital content, physical AI, health information, and beyond. Our first products will be mobile, wearable devices that stream haptic data from multiple digital source to create meaningful sensations of touch.
What You'll Be Doing
The ASIC Engineer will assist in the design, development, and verification of ASIC chips integral to our core technology mission. You will contribute to the design, verification, and testing of ASIC chips critical to our technology offerings, working closely with cross-functional teams and external fabrication partners to deliver quality solutions that meet business and market needs.
Key Responsibilities
Help shape the design and development of ASIC chips under the guidance of senior engineers and leadership.
Collaborate with product teams to align ASIC design efforts with customer requirements.
Support coordination and communication with external semiconductor fabrication houses and consulting services.
Participate in cross-functional teams to contribute to project planning, innovation, and delivery.
Contribute to vendor evaluation and support decision-making related to ASIC design and manufacturing.
Participate in detailed testing and verification activities to ensure ASIC quality and reliability.
Troubleshoot and resolve design issues in coordination with senior team members.
Ensure alignment of ASIC development goals with organizational strategy.
Other duties as assigned.
What You'll Need for This Position
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, preferably with focus on solid-state fabrication.
Must-Have Skills & Experience
Minimum of 3 years of experience in ASIC design, testing, or verification.
Familiarity with chip testing and verification methodologies; board layout experience is a plus.
Ability to work independently on well-defined technical tasks and collaborate within a team.
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Effective communication skills to collaborate across teams and with external partners.
While working under supervision, the ASIC Engineer’s decisions and work quality directly affect project timelines and product quality. Errors may cause short- to mid-term delays impacting costs and customer commitments. Careful execution and teamwork are essential to mitigate risks.
What's in It for You
Work closely with cutting-edge technology. You'll be hands-on with novel neural haptic technology that's defining the future of spatial computing and immersive experiences.
Work in a close-knit, startup environment. We strive to create an intellectually stimulating and collegial working environment. Our energy for inventing, creating, and learning spans work and play: we have regular happy hours, plan field trips, play games, play music, and generally have a good time.
An early employee experience. We are an early-stage deep tech startup company that requires all members to contribute across the entire business. On any given day, there will be new challenges and new demands to propel the business forward. We expect all employees to be able to dive into any new challenges that present themselves, even if they are beyond the job description above. If your are driven by the desire to see success and to create new tech not seen by the world previously, you will fit right in to the team's culture.
Compensation & Benefits
Afference is committed to providing the sense of touch for the evolution of the human connection to technology and the future of the digital experience. We are leading this effort through deep science and technology, which provides unique experiences compared to classical haptic technologies. Our lean team of experts demands a high level of excellence but can compensate with the commensurate upside potential of an early-growth startup in a high-growth sector of extended reality.
Compensation offers depend on skills, qualifications, and experience, and range between:
$140,000 to $160,000 per year at 100% FTE
Benefits include:
Medical, dental vision, life, STD, FSA, additional company perks
Equity Incentives
Self-managed PTO
Location: On-site; Cleveland, OH office
Afference.io develops neural interfaces and wearable haptic devices that let people feel digital objects. Its flagship Phantom device uses actuators and neural stimulation to create tactile sensations when users interact with virtual, augmented, or mixed reality environments. The technology works by pairing motion or touch data with targeted stimulation in a wearable form, translating digital contact into felt feedback. The company differentiates itself through decades of research in artificial sensations, a focus on tactile perception across VR/AR/MR, and a business model that combines direct device sales with licensing to other manufacturers, serving clients from game studios to movie producers and hardware makers. Its goal is to expand spatial computing by enabling realistic touch in digital experiences and to grow adoption by offering integrated hardware and licensing partnerships.
Explore more opportunities at Afference