2026 Intern - Physical Design Engineer
QualcommJob Title
2026 Intern - Physical Design Engineer
Role Summary
Intern role on the Physical Design team in Shanghai supporting implementation from RTL/netlist through GDS. Work includes synthesis/DFT, physical implementation, timing signoff, and physical verification.
Position is part of Qualcomm's interns group and supports chip/block floorplanning, placement, routing, timing and integrity analyses to achieve signoff-quality results.
Experience Level
Entry-level (Internship). Suitable for students or recent graduates; typically less than 2 years of industry experience.
Responsibilities
Primary hands-on tasks for the intern position:
- Perform synthesis, DFT logic insertion and ATPG pattern generation.
- Implement physical design flow from netlist to GDS: floorplan, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS/PCTS), routing.
- Perform timing analysis and fixes; run signoff timing checks with Primetime.
- Conduct signal integrity (SI) and IR-drop analysis and implement fixes as required.
- Run physical verification checks: DRC, ERC, PERC and LVS; support debug and closure.
Requirements
Key skills and experience expected for this internship.
- Must-have: Basic knowledge of digital IC physical design flow and RTL/netlist concepts; familiarity with Verilog or VHDL.
- Must-have: Exposure to synthesis, placement, CTS and routing concepts; understanding of timing analysis.
- Nice-to-have: Experience or coursework involving DFT/ATPG, static timing tools (Primetime) and physical verification (DRC/LVS).
- Tools/skills: Familiarity with common EDA tools and simulation/verification flows (ModelSim, timing/signoff tools, ATPG tools) is advantageous.
- Other: Problem-solving aptitude, ability to work in a team, and willingness to learn detailed physical implementation tasks.
Education Requirements
Not specified.
About the Company
Company: Qualcomm
Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.
