Principal Physical Design Engineer
SynopsysJob Title
Principal Physical Design Engineer
Role Summary
Lead physical design methodology and implementation engagements for advanced-node semiconductor customers, focusing on RTL-to-GDSII flows, automation, and measurable improvements in PPA and design closure. Collaborate with product engineering, R&D, foundries, and customers to translate implementation challenges into production-ready methodologies.
Experience Level
Senior - requires 15+ years of hands-on experience in semiconductor physical design, implementation methodologies, or EDA development.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include leading customer engagements, developing methodologies, and building automation to accelerate tapeouts.
- Lead physical design engagements from floorplanning through signoff for advanced-node designs.
- Develop and optimize RTL-to-GDSII methodologies to improve power, performance, area (PPA), reduce runtime, and accelerate design closure.
- Build automation frameworks using Python and Tcl for placement, CTS, routing, and timing-closure workflows.
- Collaborate with Product Engineering, global R&D, and foundries to validate technologies and translate customer feedback into product requirements.
- Drive technical evaluations, benchmarking programs, and advanced-node enablement initiatives.
- Mentor and provide technical leadership to engineers in the Korea team.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and demonstrated customer-facing experience.
- Deep hands-on expertise across the RTL-to-GDSII flow: floorplanning, placement optimization, clock tree synthesis, routing, timing closure, power optimization, and physical verification.
- Strong proficiency in Python and Tcl for building automation and productivity tools.
- Proven experience working directly with semiconductor customers to solve implementation challenges and deploy methodologies for production tapeouts.
- Fluency in Korean and English; able to lead technical discussions and present to executive stakeholders in both languages.
- Experience with Fusion Compiler, IC Compiler II, PrimeTime, or equivalent implementation and signoff tools is a plus.
Education Requirements
BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
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.
