CPU Physical Design Engineer
QualcommJob Title
CPU Physical Design Engineer
Role Summary
The CPU Physical Design Engineer will lead physical-design efforts for high-performance, low-power CPU cores. The role partners with architecture, verification, and product teams to deliver multi-core CPU implementations from pre-silicon design through post-silicon validation.
Experience Level
Senior - role expects experienced engineers with significant CPU or processor-design background and prior technical leadership or supervisory responsibility.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities focus on the physical implementation, verification, and delivery of CPU designs.
- Develop and verify CPU physical designs to meet performance, power, and area targets.
- Identify and resolve complex design issues across architecture, microarchitecture, logic, circuits, and physical implementation.
- Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to define requirements, trade-offs, and implementation plans.
- Drive evaluation across the design lifecycle: architecture feasibility, pre-silicon verification, and post-silicon validation.
- Produce and review detailed technical documentation: feature specs, architectural descriptions, and verification test plans.
- Provide technical leadership and supervise direct reports when required.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience (education requirements are summarized separately below).
- Deep knowledge of computer architecture, microarchitecture, logic design, and physical design for CPUs.
- Experience with RTL and waveform/debug tools (e.g., Verilog, VHDL) and verification methodologies.
- Familiarity with synthesis, place-and-route flows and industry-standard CAD tools.
- Experience with simulation, emulation, formal verification, or silicon validation.
- Proficiency in high-level programming (C/C++) and scripting languages (Python, Perl, etc.).
- Experience creating functional models, checkers, test plans, and automated test generation.
- Strong problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills; ability to interact with senior leadership.
- Proven ability to work in large, matrixed organizations and to provide technical leadership.
Education Requirements
Minimum qualifications specify one of the following: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field plus 8+ years of relevant engineering experience; OR Master's degree in those fields plus 7+ years; OR PhD in those fields plus 6+ years. Preferred qualifications note a Master’s degree and substantially more experience (e.g., 14+ years) in high-performance microprocessor design.
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.
