Principal Engineer, Advanced Node DTCO

Job Title

Principal Engineer, Advanced Node DTCO

Role Summary

Senior engineering role focused on Design-Technology Co-Optimization (DTCO) for advanced process nodes. The role involves defining and delivering DTCO methodologies, collaborating with process and EDA product teams, and driving technology enablement for advanced node designs.

Work is within an R&D engineering organization in Sunnyvale, CA, and emphasizes technical leadership, cross-team coordination, and validation of DTCO solutions on leading-edge process technologies.

Experience Level

Senior — typically an experienced engineer with substantial hands-on technical and leadership experience (often 8+ years).

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities for this role include technical leadership, solution development, and cross-functional coordination.

• Lead development of DTCO methodologies and flows for advanced process nodes.
• Define technical requirements and interface with process engineers, device teams, and EDA/product teams.
• Design, prototype, and validate algorithms, models, and physical-design techniques for scaling and manufacturability.
• Collaborate with customers and internal teams to integrate DTCO into product roadmaps and toolchains.
• Mentor and guide engineering team members; drive technical reviews and design-for-manufacturing best practices.
• Present results internally and externally; document technical approaches and validation data.

Requirements

Key required and preferred skills and experience.

• Must-have: Strong experience in DTCO, physical design, or process-aware design for advanced nodes; deep understanding of device/process interactions and manufacturability challenges.
• Must-have: Proven track record of driving technical projects and collaborating across process, device, and EDA teams.
• Must-have: Proficiency with EDA tools, physical verification flows, and scripting or programming for automation (e.g., Python, Tcl).
• Must-have: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and ability to validate solutions on silicon or detailed models.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with advanced-node challenges such as EUV, FinFET/ GAA, multi-patterning, and variability mitigation techniques.
• Nice-to-have: Publications, patents, or prior product delivery in DTCO or related semiconductor R&D areas.

Education Requirements

Not specified.

About the Company

Company: Synopsys

Headquarters: Mountain View, California, USA

Synopsys is a leading company in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP solutions. It provides tools and services for designing and verifying complex semiconductor devices and systems. The company plays a pivotal role in the semiconductor industry, helping engineers innovate and deliver higher-quality products faster. Synopsys is committed to advancing technology standards and offers a range of software and hardware solutions to its clients globally.