Redwood City, California, United StatesFull-time1 wk. ago
**Job Title**
Staff Software Engineer – Developer Tooling
**Staff Software Engineer – Developer Tooling**
At Cognichip, we are building the next-generation IDE to empower semiconductor design engineers with a 10x productivity boost through AI-native workflows and seamless integration with high-performance simulation engines. We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer with expertise in desktop application development (especially Electron/VS Code extensions) to join our IDE team. Unlike traditional web roles, this position focuses on developing and extending a VS Code–based IDE, creating deep integrations with AI, collaborative editing features, and advanced visualizations tailored for semiconductor design workflows.
**Core Responsibilities**
- Design, implement, and maintain VS Code extensions and Electron-based IDE features for the Cognichip platform.
- Develop advanced IDE features such as AI-assisted coding, linting, collaborative editing, syntax highlighting, and domain-specific visualizations.
- Integrate the IDE with backend microservices and APIs, ensuring seamless performance across distributed environments.
- Build and optimize cross-platform desktop experiences (Windows, macOS, Linux).
- Collaborate closely with designers to implement polished, intuitive UI/UX patterns inside the IDE.
- Contribute to performance profiling, debugging, and optimizations to ensure a responsive and reliable user experience.
- Guide junior developers towards best practices
**Required Qualifications**
- 10+ years of software engineering experience, with 4+ years in desktop application development (Electron, VS Code extensions, or similar IDE frameworks).
- Strong proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, React, and ES6+.
- Experience developing VS Code extensions or other plugin-based IDE architectures.
- Solid understanding of state management (e.g., Redux, Zustand) and component-driven UI frameworks.
- Knowledge of cross-platform application design (Windows, macOS, Linux).
- Familiarity with performance profiling and optimization in IDE or desktop applications.
- Experience with version control and CI/CD workflows (GitHub, Jenkins, etc.).
**Preferred Qualifications**
- Exposure to LLMs, AI-driven developer tools, or intelligent assistants inside IDEs.
- Knowledge of Electron internals and packaging/distribution of desktop applications.
- Experience with language parsers, syntax highlighting, lexical analysis, and editor/IDE UX patterns.
- Experience implementing authentication, permissions, and role-based access in desktop apps.
- Familiarity with semiconductor design tools or EDA workflows.
**What We Offer**
- Opportunity to shape the Cognichip IDE, a flagship product at the intersection of AI, semiconductor design, and developer productivity.
- Competitive compensation package including equity.
- Work alongside world-class engineers, scientists, and product designers.
- Collaborative and innovative startup culture where your impact is direct and visible
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