CVP Silicon Design Engineering; Site Lead,
AMD Bangalore
In an exclusive interaction, Deepak Agarwal, CVP Silicon Design Engineering and Site Lead at AMD Bengaluru, reflects on his two-decade journey shaping AMD’s global design capabilities. From building India’s largest R&D site to driving critical roles in the EPYC server roadmap, he highlights how AMD India is evolving into a strategic innovation hub for the semiconductor ecosystem.
1. You’ve spent over 22 years at AMD — a remarkable tenure. What have been the most transformative moments for you personally and professionally during this time?
Over the last two decades at AMD, I have had the opportunity to grow through a range of roles starting as a young engineer in Austin, leading server SoC design programs, and now managing our largest global design site in Bengaluru. A pivotal milestone was being entrusted with leading the server SoC verification group during AMD’s re-entry into the server market. That expanded my perspective from IP-level focus to full SoC execution, while also sharpening my leadership skills across global teams.
Another defining moment was stepping into the Site Lead role and overseeing the establishment of AMD’s TechnoStar campus, a 500,000 sq. ft. facility that today houses over 3,000 engineers. On a personal note, this journey has shaped not just how I lead, but how I think, sometimes a little too “corporate” at home, as my family likes to joke.
The path from DE2 to CVP hasn’t been easy, but it’s been deeply rewarding, marked by continuous learning, meaningful challenges, and the unwavering trust of AMD’s leadership. What’s kept me going is also the company’s culture rooted in our founding belief: “People first, Products and Profits will follow.”
2. From a small team of six engineers to a thriving design hub in India — what were some of the key challenges and milestones in scaling AMD’s Bengaluru center?
When I returned to India in 2005, we started with just six engineers in a small office in Bengaluru. One of our biggest challenges then was hiring, the local talent pool had limited exposure to computer architecture and design languages like Verilog. So we focused on aptitude, sincerity, and potential, and invested in structured training to build capabilities from the ground up.
As we took on high-visibility projects, our credibility grew, helping us attract strong talent aligned with AMD’s values of innovation and collaboration. Key milestones included expanding headcount, launching India-led programs, and eventually establishing the AMD TechnoStar campus — now our largest R&D site globally.
Today, AMD India is not just a support center, it plays a central role in our global design efforts with end-to-end ownership across critical domains.
3. AMD has seen a strong resurgence in the server market, especially with the success of the EPYC processor. What role did the India team play in that journey?
India has been at the heart of every EPYC generation since 2016. From IP development to SoC verification, floor planning, design-for-testability, and physical design, our teams in Bengaluru and Hyderabad have led critical functions for server SoCs. While architecture is driven from the U.S., execution is deeply rooted in India. In fact, anything that gets taped out globally has involvement from an India-based engineer and that’s how integral the team here has become to AMD’s success.
4. How has your role evolved over the years at AMD, and what does your current mandate as Corporate Vice President and Site Lead entail?
I started out as a CPU design and verification engineer and later moved across domains like interconnects, DDR, and eventually SoC-level execution. Today, I lead global execution for AMD’s server SoCs ensuring we tape out products on time, every time. Additionally, I drive AI integration into ScanDFT workflows to enhance execution efficiency. As Site Lead, my focus is on ensuring a world-class employee experience whether that’s through better facilities, policies, or engagement. My broader goal is to make AMD Bengaluru the best place to work within the company and even globally.
5. What’s your approach to building and nurturing high-impact engineering teams, especially in a fast-evolving field like semiconductor design?
I believe great engineering teams are built on trust, empowerment, and a strong sense of ownership. My approach has always been to create an environment where engineers feel challenged, supported, and encouraged to innovate. Over the years, our talent strategy has evolved from potential-based hiring and deep training to nurturing both technical and managerial career paths.
We have seen a clear cultural shift. Today’s engineers increasingly seek depth, purpose, and impact over titles. To support that, AMD has dual career ladders enabling growth for both technical specialists and people leaders. Mentorship is central to this journey. I personally focus on sharing not just the technical ‘how’, but also the strategic ‘why’, helping teams develop both competence and confidence.
We also encourage cross-functional exposure, especially in the early stages of a career, to promote systems thinking and broader perspective. Ultimately, it’s about building future leaders and not just strong contributors.
6. How do you foster innovation within your teams while balancing global collaboration and local execution?
At AMD India, innovation isn’t an afterthought, it’s embedded in our ownership model. We are not just an execution center; our teams lead end-to-end delivery, which creates the space for innovation. We also encourage engineers to participate in forums like GATC (Global AMD Technical Conference) and ATAC (AMD Asia Technical Conference), where they showcase problem-solving approaches and innovations. Of course, global collaboration is foundational. We operate as one AMD, co-creating and aligning with our global counterparts while owning and driving innovation locally.
7. What are some leadership lessons you’ve learned through AMD’s highs and lows that continue to shape your outlook today?
One of the biggest leadership lessons I have learned is the importance of resilience, both personally and as a team. I have seen AMD navigate through tough phases, including strategic shifts and market challenges, and also through some of our proudest milestones, like the resurgence of our server business.
In those moments, what’s mattered most is staying grounded, being transparent, and trusting your people. I have learned to listen more, communicate openly even when the news isn’t great and focus on enabling the team rather than directing them. Consistency in culture, especially during uncertain times, goes a long way.
Leadership isn’t just about driving execution, it’s about creating an environment where people feel empowered, supported, and aligned with a shared vision regardless of external ups and downs.
8. In what ways do you see India contributing to the global semiconductor value chain beyond just talent and design support?
India is fast emerging as a strategic hub for semiconductor design engineering, moving well beyond talent, making moves in semiconductor manufacturing, with government initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive scheme aimed at attracting fab investments. The government has been talking with global companies to establish assembly and testing facilities. The country is also building capabilities in compound semiconductors and specialized chips for automotive and telecom applications.
From a supply chain perspective, India offers geographic diversification, which has become increasingly important for global companies thinking about risk management. The country’s growing domestic market – especially in electronics manufacturing, automotive, and telecom infrastructure – creates both demand and economies of scale.
India is also positioning itself in emerging areas like chip design for AI and IoT applications, leveraging its software expertise. There’s investment in research and development through institutions and partnerships with global tech companies.
Today, engineering teams at AMD in India are taking full ownership of core IP, delivering end-to-end roadmap CPU designs that are key to AMD’s product portfolio and roadmap. In addition to processor design, the teams are involved in AI accelerator development, SoC execution, physical design, verification, packaging, and tape-out activities.
With increasing responsibilities, growing ecosystem maturity, and greater collaboration across academia, startups, and policy bodies, India is now playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of global computing platforms from innovation to execution. That said, the semiconductor industry is incredibly complex and capital-intensive, so India’s progress will depend on sustained investment, infrastructure development, and navigating the geopolitical dynamics of this critical industry.
9. What trends or technologies are you most excited about that could redefine the future of silicon design and computing?
AI is transforming how we think about chip design. We are exploring how it can be used to reduce product development cycle times and improve execution efficiency. Additionally, advanced packaging technologies including 2D and 3D stacking are becoming critical as we approach the limits of Moore’s Law. These, along with power delivery and thermal innovations, will be key in shaping the future of high-performance computing.
10. What advice would you give to young engineers aspiring to build meaningful careers in semiconductors and tech innovation in India?
My advice to young engineers is to build a strong foundation in both hardware fundamentals and system-level thinking. Understand how your design decisions affect scalability, power, and reliability. Stay curious, stay hands-on, explore internships, open-source silicon projects, and deepen your knowledge through courses in areas like physical design and semiconductor physics.
The industry is evolving rapidly, and with India moving toward manufacturing with its own fabs, we will need engineers who can bridge design, innovation, and production. Most importantly, don’t just chase roles or titles, chase meaningful problems worth solving. That mindset will set you apart.
