Based on a new search strategy using circuit simulation and simulated annealing with local search, a technique for design automation of high-performance operational amplifiers is proposed. For arbitrary circuit topology and performance specifications, through discrete optimization of a cost function with discrete design variables the design of operational amplifiers is performed. A special-purpose circuit simulator and some heuristics are used to reduce the design time. Through the design of a low-power high-speed fully differential CMOS operational amplifier usable in smart sensors and 10-b 25-MS/s pipelined A/D converters, it has been demonstrated that a design tool developed using the proposed technique can be used for designing high-performance operational amplifiers with less design knowledge and less design effort.