CPU Server Physical Design Engineer
QualcommJob Title
CPU Server Physical Design Engineer
Role Summary
Lead physical-design activities for high-performance, server-class CPU cores, focusing on power, performance, and timing closure. Work within the CPU Engineering team in the Engineering Group and collaborate with architects, RTL designers, verification, and validation teams from pre-silicon through post-silicon stages.
Experience Level
Mid-level. Typically requires multiple years of hands-on engineering experience (generally 2+ years in relevant CPU/ASIC or systems engineering roles) with the ability to work independently and influence cross-functional decisions.
Responsibilities
Primary duties include designing, verifying, and delivering CPU physical implementations and supporting the product lifecycle.
- Develop and verify high-performance, low-power CPU physical designs using knowledge of computer architecture, micro-architecture, logic, circuits, and physical design.
- Identify and resolve design issues to meet functionality, power, and performance targets.
- Collaborate across teams to define requirements, trade-offs, and specifications (performance, power, cost, functionality).
- Evaluate and improve the design flow from architecture and feasibility through pre-silicon verification and post-silicon validation.
- Create and maintain technical documentation: feature descriptions, architecture notes, verification test plans, and implementation details.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and practical experience; preferred items indicated where applicable.
- Experience with high-performance microprocessor design (architecture, micro-architecture, or implementation).
- Proficiency in high-level programming (C, C++) and scripting languages (Python, Perl, etc.).
- Experience with simulators and waveform/debug tools and RTL languages (Verilog, VHDL).
- Familiarity with synthesis, place-and-route flows and industry-standard physical-design and verification tools.
- Experience with simulation, emulation, formal verification, or silicon validation.
- Experience creating functional models, checkers, test plans, and test generation infrastructure.
- Ability to work in a large, matrixed organization and to communicate technical information effectively (verbal and written).
- Preferred: prior work on server-class CPU or ASIC projects and experience with timing closure and power-optimization techniques.
Education Requirements
Minimum qualifications specify one of the following: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field plus 2+ years of relevant engineering experience; OR a Master's degree in those fields plus 1+ year of relevant experience; OR a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. A Master's degree is listed as preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and experience are accepted per the posted minimum qualifications.
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.
