GPU Physical Design Engineer (Senior/Lead)
QualcommJob Title
GPU Physical Design Engineer (Senior/Lead)
Role Summary
Implement and sign off physical design for next-generation high-performance GPU cores to meet performance, power and area (PPA) targets and support successful tapeouts. The role is part of the GPU physical design team and requires close collaboration with RTL, STA, DFT, power and SoC teams.
Experience Level
Senior / Lead - role expects senior-level experience. Typical experience guidance in the posting: Bachelor's +4 years, Master's +3 years, or PhD +2 years in hardware engineering or related physical-design roles.
Responsibilities
Core technical and team responsibilities include:
- Perform floor-planning, placement & routing (PnR), clock tree synthesis (CTS), and clocking architecture design for GPU cores.
- Drive timing closure, power optimization, PDN design and physical verification (DRC/LVS) to meet PPA targets.
- Execute signoff flows and formal verification; resolve issues across constraints, verification, STA and physical design.
- Collaborate with RTL, STA, DFT, power and SoC teams to debug and close cross-domain issues.
- Develop and maintain automation and debug scripts (Tcl/Perl) to support implementation flows.
- Lead or mentor a small team and deliver technical milestones on schedule.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience:
- Proven hands-on experience in physical implementation of high-performance cores, including PnR, CTS, timing closure and power optimization.
- Strong expertise in timing convergence and advanced STA concepts.
- Practical experience with Synopsys ICC2 and/or Cadence Innovus and timing tools such as PTSI/Tempus.
- Good understanding of clocking architectures and PDN.
- Proficient in Tcl/Perl scripting for automation and debug.
- Ability to work collaboratively with design, DFT and PNR teams to resolve integration and verification issues.
- Strong problem-solving and communication skills; experience working to project milestones and deadlines.
Nice-to-have:
- Experience making PPA trade-offs for PPA-critical cores and working in the latest technology nodes.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering or related engineering field. The posting specifies: Bachelor's +4 years, Master's +3 years, or PhD +2 years of hardware engineering or related work experience; equivalent practical experience is acceptable.
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.
