PDK Engineer

Job Title

PDK Engineer

Role Summary

Develop, validate, support, and optimize DRC (Design Rule Checking) runsets and physical verification flows for advanced semiconductor process nodes. Work with process development, design rule owners, CAD/EDA teams, and design groups to translate process rules into robust, production-quality rule decks.

Experience Level

Mid-level. Typically requires several years of professional experience working on DRC/runset development and physical verification for semiconductor technologies.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include maintaining and validating rule decks, debugging issues, and supporting production users.

• Develop, maintain, and support DRC runsets/rule decks for advanced process nodes.
• Translate process design rules into accurate, efficient physical verification checks.
• Implement and validate geometric, connectivity, density, and process-specific checks using tools such as Calibre, ICV, or Pegasus.
• Create and maintain test cases, unit-level and end-to-end validation, and regression suites for rule decks.
• Debug and resolve runset issues reported by users or discovered during validation.
• Improve runset quality, runtime efficiency, scalability, and usability.
• Support production users and provide timely resolution for runset-related issues.
• Collaborate with process developers, design rule owners, and CAD/EDA teams to implement physical verification solutions.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience.

• Proven experience in DRC rule deck/runset development for semiconductor technologies.
• Hands-on expertise with at least one major physical verification tool: Siemens Calibre, Synopsys ICV, or Cadence Pegasus.
• Practical experience with layout and debug tools (for example: Cadence Virtuoso, Calibre DRV, IC WorkBench).
• Strong programming/scripting skills (Python, Perl, Tcl, shell scripting).
• Solid understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes, layout design rules, and physical verification concepts.
• Ability to create and maintain validation test cases and regression suites; strong debugging and analytical skills.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience using AI-based tools or automation to improve rule deck development and debug productivity.
• Experience optimizing runset runtime, scalability, and usability for production flows.

Education Requirements

Minimum: Bachelor's degree (with 4+ years' experience) or Master's degree (with 2+ years' experience) in Electronics, VLSI, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

About the Company

Company: Intel Corporation

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA

Intel Corporation is a leading multinational technology company known for its innovative semiconductor solutions, including microprocessors, artificial intelligence accelerators, and memory products. Headquartered in the United States, Intel focuses on cutting-edge technology and a collaborative working environment, driving advancements in semiconductor manufacturing to meet global demands. The company emphasizes professional development and aims to shape the future of technology through groundbreaking designs.