We’re Building the Future of Data Infrastructure

November 14, 2024

Behind the passion for the work from this analog design engineer

By Amrutha Iyer, Marvell Analog Design Engineer

Welcome to the third of our four-part series on the "What Makes Marvell" blog, where we highlight the incredible analog engineers making an impact at Marvell. Today, we feature Amrutha Iyer, an analog design engineer in Santa Clara, Calif., who recently transitioned into a leadership role.

Amrutha Iyer, Marvell Analog Design Engineer


How did I end up here?

I’ve been at Marvell for about four years now, joining through the Inphi acquisition in 2020. But before that, I spent time at Broadcom, Nvidia, and Samsung. I’ve always been an analog design engineer, and it’s been a passion of mine from the start. A big part of why I stuck with it is because of my experience at UCLA, where I did my master’s. The professors there were some of the best in the field and had a way of motivating you to fall in love with analog engineering. With all the industry publications they contributed to, it was impossible not to be inspired. 

What keeps me excited?

It’s the challenges! The field is constantly evolving, and it feels like there's always something new on the horizon, from the early days of IoT to today with AI. Tackling new designs always starts at the analog level – where the magic happens and where we push the boundaries of silicon.

Why analog?

For me, analog design is about building from the ground up. There's no abstraction here and no assumptions. The visibility into how things function, and the problem-solving process is immensely satisfying. You learn to build things with a deep, fundamental understanding, and there’s something very rewarding about that.

Why Marvell?

What drew me to Marvell was the challenging work. Even after the Inphi acquisition, my drive remained the same. We’re still pushing boundaries, but beyond the work itself, it’s the culture at Marvell that makes a difference. The knowledge sharing is incredible. There’s no hierarchy. I can talk to anyone in the company, no matter their position, and they’re always open to engaging. That kind of openness motivates engineers like me to give our best, knowing our voices are heard.

Stepping into leadership

One of the most significant steps in my career has been transitioning into a leadership role. I became the macro lead for a particular chip, and it’s been both a challenge and a thrill. My team encouraged me to grow into this role, and even though I’m not officially a manager yet, I’ve already started managing more IPs and guiding a small team. Recently, I led the clocking for a chip, working with other leaders to ensure our engineers stayed within the specifications we set. Now, I’m leading a group of eight to nine engineers, and it feels like a significant milestone in my career.

What I’m most proud of

Honestly, I love working with people. Collaborating with so many brilliant engineers is what excites me every day. And now, stepping into a leadership role gives me the chance to mentor and guide others. Another big achievement has been the papers we’re publishing. Our team presents at ISSCC every year, which is huge. I’m proud to say my team and I are writing a paper this year, and that’s something I never had the opportunity to do at previous companies.

What do I do for fun?

Outside of work, I enjoy travel, and my family and I love bowling, go-karting, and visiting breweries and enjoy post tape-out celebrations with the team. We also had a weekly team volleyball session on campus which was a lot of fun and challenge each other during 5K Marvell races.

Amrutha Iyer, Marvell Analog Design Engineer

Before you go, don’t forget to check out these jobs for analog engineers at Marvell by visiting our  Careers page.
 

Tags: What Makes Marvell

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Accelerated Infrastructure is the Foundation of AI