Understanding the System Is the Key to Building a Reliable SoC
What do you currently do at AIO?
I am responsible for integrating the key Digital and Analog IPs that make up the SoC, including the CPU Subsystem, AMBA Bus, Peripherals, and Memory Interfaces, and for designing an optimal architecture from a system-level perspective to ensure stable SoC operation.
SoC development goes beyond individual IP design. Every stage—from architecture design and IP Integration to Verification, implementation, and product Evaluation—must work together as an integrated process. I am involved throughout the entire SoC development Lifecycle, from reviewing the SoC architecture during the product planning stage to RTL design, Synthesis, Timing Closure, DFT, Tape-out, and SoC product Verification.
I also work closely with Design Houses to improve design quality and overall development quality, while collaborating with Package and product testing teams on SoC product Evaluation and customer Qualification. During development, I analyze technical issues and compare design and Verification results with actual product behavior to identify root causes and determine improvements. Through this work, I help improve overall SoC design quality and contribute to stable mass production and product quality.
What skills or capabilities do you consider most important in your role?
I believe the most important capabilities in SoC development are logical problem-solving skills and the ability to think from a system-level perspective.
An SoC consists of many different blocks—including the CPU, Memory, Bus, Peripherals, Digital IP, and Analog IP—operating together as a single system. Understanding individual IPs alone is therefore not enough to solve complex problems. It is essential to understand the overall data flow and Timing and to analyze root causes systematically.
In addition to RTL design skills, a solid understanding of Verification, Timing Analysis, Synthesis, DFT, and Silicon Debug is essential. During actual mass production, issues that were not identified in Simulation may arise under specific temperature or voltage conditions, making experience in investigating problems from multiple perspectives particularly important. Since SoC development also requires extensive collaboration across teams, strong communication skills are equally important.
What has been your most rewarding experience?
One of my most rewarding experiences was resolving a technical issue in an SoC product approaching mass production, successfully completing customer Qualification, and contributing to its stable mass production.
Near the end of the development process, we discovered an intermittent functional error that occurred only under specific conditions. Because the issue could only be reproduced under limited conditions, identifying the cause was challenging. We progressively narrowed down the conditions by comprehensively analyzing RTL behavior, Simulation results, Timing, and Silicon Test results.
Working closely not only within the SoC team but also with Verification, testing, and Firmware engineers, we examined a wide range of possibilities and ultimately identified the root cause of the issue, which occurred only under specific conditions. We then modified the circuit to ensure stable operation across all operating conditions and resolved the issue.
The more complex the problem, the more important it is to look at the system as a whole, analyze the root cause, and collaborate closely with engineers across RTL design, Verification, testing, Firmware, and other disciplines. It was particularly rewarding to see our analysis and design improvements directly enhance product quality and reliability and contribute to delivering a stable product to the customer.
What would you like to achieve at AIO?
My goal is to grow into an SoC expert who can solve problems from a system-level perspective and enhance product competitiveness based on my SoC design experience.
Having participated throughout the SoC development process—from SoC Top-Level RTL design and IP Integration to Verification, Tape-out, product Evaluation, and customer Qualification—I have learned that creating a reliable product requires not only designing individual blocks, but also understanding and optimizing the entire system.
At AIO, I would like to build on this experience by further expanding my design expertise across key SoC components such as CPU Subsystems, Memory Systems, and High-Speed Interfaces, while contributing to the development of next-generation SoCs that deliver both high performance and low power consumption.
I also want to grow beyond simply implementing predefined designs and develop the ability to think at the system architecture level and help define technical direction. By collaborating with experts across different fields and continuously taking on new technological challenges, I hope to contribute to the development of competitive SoC products and AIO’s business growth.
What advice would you give to those preparing to join AIO?
SoC development goes beyond simply writing RTL code. I believe it is a field that requires the ability to understand the entire system and solve problems from a broader perspective.
Along with an understanding of the various components that make up an SoC—including CPU Architecture, AMBA Bus Protocols, Memory Systems, and Analog/Digital IP—it is important to analyze problems logically, identify their root causes, and remain persistent until they are fully resolved.
Semiconductor technology is also evolving rapidly, so a willingness to learn new technologies and continuously develop your expertise is essential. AIO offers many opportunities to take on challenges across diverse technology areas. If you approach those opportunities with passion and a strong sense of responsibility, I believe you can grow into an accomplished SoC engineer at AIO.