NPU Physical Design Engineer, Sr Staff
QualcommJob Title
NPU Physical Design Engineer, Sr Staff
Role Summary
Staff-level physical design engineer responsible for PNR implementation and signoff for Qualcomm Hexagon NPU blocks. Member of the Hardware Engineering team in Bangalore working on floorplanning, placement, CTS, timing closure, and signoff flows on advanced process nodes.
Experience Level
Senior - requires extensive physical design and PNR experience (typical posting specifies 12+ years of relevant PNR/physical design experience).
Responsibilities
Primary engineering responsibilities and ownership areas:
- Own full PNR implementation for NPU blocks: floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, and post-route fixes.
- Perform timing closure and signoff preparation (STA) and coordinate power and low-power verification activities.
- Drive signoff readiness: power analysis, formal verification interactions, LVS/DRC handoffs and PDN/IR considerations.
- Optimize placement/CTS and implement design improvements for performance, area, and power targets on advanced nodes.
- Develop and maintain scripts and flows on Unix/Linux (Perl/Tcl or similar) to automate PNR and signoff tasks.
- Troubleshoot PNR, timing, and signoff issues; collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve design integration problems.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience (concise):
- Extensive hands-on PNR experience on advanced process nodes (experience level listed as ~12+ years).
- Strong knowledge of floorplanning, placement, CTS, optimization, and post-route fixes.
- Signoff expertise: static timing analysis (STA), power analysis, and low-power verification workflows.
- Experience with signoff domains and related concepts (LEC/CLP/PDN understanding).
- Proficient in Unix/Linux environments and scripting (Perl, Tcl, or equivalent).
- Analytical problem-solving skills and ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment.
Education Requirements
Degree or equivalent experience expected: Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or a related technical field. The posting specifies degree-plus-experience options (e.g., Bachelors + 4+ years, Masters + 3+ years, PhD + 2+ years) and also lists senior-level experience expectations (~12+ years); equivalent practical experience is accepted per the degree+experience combinations.
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.
