Physical Design Engineer
QualcommJob Title
Physical Design Engineer
Role Summary
Design and implement physical IP blocks and SoC features for high-performance, low-power ASIC products. Work on architecture, circuit and logic design, implementation flow (synthesis, place and route, timing and power), and verification across cross-functional teams.
Position sits in the ASIC/Physical Design team and requires collaboration with hardware, software, and verification teams to deliver production-quality silicon.
Experience Level
Mid-level. Typical candidates have 2+ years of ASIC design/verification/validation/integration experience; preferred candidates have 3+ years and experience with architecture and design tools.
Responsibilities
Primary duties include block- and SoC-level physical design, verification, and documentation.
- Define, model, design (digital and/or analog), optimize, verify, validate, implement, and document IP and block/SoC designs.
- Create architectures, circuit specifications, logic designs, and system simulations from system requirements.
- Work across teams to develop and execute implementation strategies that meet system and customer requirements.
- Evaluate and drive process flow from high-level design through synthesis, place-and-route, timing closure, power analysis, and verification.
- Use EDA and custom-layout flows (e.g., RTL-to-GDS flows, Virtuoso) to implement designs.
- Produce detailed technical documentation for EDA/IP/ASIC projects.
- Operate independently with minimal supervision and influence decisions beyond the immediate team.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience; preferred items noted separately.
- ASIC design, verification, validation, or integration experience (practical years noted in Education Requirements).
- Experience with RTL-to-GDS flows and/or custom circuit design/layout flows (Virtuoso or equivalent).
- Familiarity with synthesis, place-and-route, timing closure, and power analysis.
- Experience with design verification methods and EDA toolchains.
- Scripting and programming skills for automation and tool integration.
- Strong written and verbal communication; ability to write technical documentation.
- Ability to collaborate across software, hardware, and verification teams.
Nice-to-have:
- Experience with architecture and design tools (2+ years preferred).
- Additional experience in circuit design, automation, or C++ development.
Education Requirements
Minimum: Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field plus 2+ years of ASIC design/verification/validation/integration experience; OR Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field plus 1+ year of relevant experience; OR PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field. Preferred fields: Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science.
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.
