MSIP Design Methodology Engineering Intern (16-month) - Toronto, Canada
QualcommJob Title
MSIP Design Methodology Engineering Intern (16-month) - Toronto, Canada
Role Summary
Internship on the Design Methodology team supporting back-end ASIC/IC implementation flows. The intern will develop and maintain flow scripts and tooling, apply AI/ML and LLM techniques to improve productivity, and support physical implementation tasks to optimize power, performance, and area.
This position reports to the methodology/implementation engineering team and works with project teams across physical synthesis, timing closure, verification, and power integrity.
Experience Level
Entry-level internship (student role). Targeted at current university students; expected availability for a 16-month internship starting May/June 2027. Suitable for candidates with academic programming experience (typically 1+ year).
Responsibilities
Typical responsibilities include hands-on support across the back-end design flow and productivity tooling:
- Work with implementation teams on the back-end ASIC/IC flow (synthesis, place & route, timing closure).
- Develop and maintain flow scripting and benchmarking (TCL, Python, shell scripts).
- Design and prototype AI/ML or LLM-based tools to accelerate design productivity and reduce cycle time.
- Assist with physical synthesis trade-offs focused on power and area.
- Support static timing analysis and timing closure activities.
- Perform physical verification tasks (DRC, LVS, ANT/ERC) and assist with EM/IR analysis.
- Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams and follow established EDA tool flows and methodologies.
Requirements
Core technical skills and practical capabilities expected for the role.
- Practical experience with scripting and automation in Linux/Unix environments (required).
- Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, C, or C++ preferred).
- Familiarity with EDA tools and flows is an asset (synthesis, simulation, equivalence checking, STA).
- Familiarity with hardware description languages and verification concepts (Verilog knowledge is an asset).
- Interest in applying ML/LLM approaches to engineering workflows and tool development.
- Strong problem-solving skills, ability to learn new tools, and collaborate in a team environment.
- Be available for the full 16-month internship period (May/June 2027 through August/September 2028) if applying to the 16-month posting.
- Export-control: candidates from certain countries may require an export license which can delay or prevent start; applicants should be aware of export-license constraints.
Education Requirements
Enrolled in a Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Science, Computer Science, or a related field. Expected graduation date November 2028 or later for 16-month internships. Applicants should have at least 1+ years of academic experience with programming languages such as C, C++, or Python and be available May/June 2027 through August/September 2028 for the 16-month term.
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.
