Principal CPU Physical Design Engineer
QualcommJob Title
Principal CPU Physical Design Engineer
Role Summary
Lead physical implementation of high-performance CPU cores at advanced process nodes. Responsible for RTL-to-GDSII implementation, PPA convergence, and cross-functional collaboration with architecture, RTL, circuit, and CAD teams to deliver silicon that meets timing, power, and area targets.
Experience Level
Senior — typically 10+ years of ASIC/SoC physical design experience working on high-performance designs and advanced-node implementations.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include implementation, optimization, and methodology development for CPU physical design.
- Own CPU implementation blocks from RTL to GDSII with focus on timing, power, and area convergence.
- Drive timing closure, congestion management, variability mitigation, EM/IR, and power-integrity solutions.
- Partner with Architecture, RTL, Circuit, and CAD teams to co-optimize design and influence microarchitectural trade-offs.
- Develop and deploy flows, automation, and methodologies to improve quality of results (QoR) and scalability across projects.
- Collaborate with EDA vendors and CAD teams to extend tool capabilities.
- Mentor junior engineers and raise the technical bar of the team.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience; preferred qualifications listed as nice-to-have.
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Must-have:
- 10+ years of ASIC/SoC physical design experience.
- Full RTL-to-GDSII implementation experience (synthesis, place & route, STA, signoff).
- Proven ability in timing closure and power optimization for high-frequency designs.
- Scripting skills (TCL, Python, or similar) for flow automation and debug.
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Nice-to-have:
- Experience working on CPU cores or other high-performance processor designs.
- Hands-on experience with advanced nodes (7nm, 5nm, 3nm or below).
- Familiarity with industry-standard EDA tools (Synopsys, Cadence).
- Experience developing design methodologies and strong data-driven debug skills.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field. Qualcomm specifies equivalence: Bachelor's degree plus 8+ years relevant experience, Master's plus 7+ years, or PhD plus 6+ years of related work experience.
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.
