Guides, industry insights, and career advice for IC engineers, ASIC designers, and chip architects.
Floorplan engineers define how blocks, macros, and power rails are arranged on the die - decisions that set physical constraints for all of downstream implementation.
Power analysis engineers own the IC power sign-off gate at tapeout, using Synopsys PrimePower, Cadence Voltus, and Ansys RedHawk to verify IR-drop, electromigration, and thermal margins.
DFT engineers are scarce relative to demand because the discipline sits at the intersection of RTL, physical design, and manufacturing test, and depth in all three takes time.
What back-end ASIC physical design looks like at staff level, the EDA tool stack employers expect, and current US compensation ranges.
A layer-by-layer technical overview of the semiconductor supply chain, from polysilicon refining and EDA tooling through wafer fabrication, advanced packaging, and board assembly. Written for IC engineers who want to understand where their work fits in the broader electronics stack.
A practical guide for IC engineers on planning a semiconductor design career, from choosing a discipline track to understanding the progression arc, compensation benchmarks, and where the industry is heading in 2026.
Where ASIC design engineers actually work, what employers pay, and how the market splits between AI accelerators and traditional fabless roles.