Quantum PDK Design Enablement Engineer

Job Title

Quantum PDK Design Enablement Engineer

Role Summary

Develop, qualify, and deploy DRC, LVS, and parasitic extraction (PEX) components for semiconductor Process Design Kits (PDKs). Work across process technology, device modeling, EDA, and physical design to ensure PDKs enable correct, manufacturable customer designs.

Experience Level

Mid-level - typically a candidate with several years of relevant semiconductor PDK/physical-verification experience (generally within the 3–7 year range).

Responsibilities

The role focuses on creating and maintaining production-quality physical verification and extraction rule decks and associated verification flows.

• Develop, code, qualify, and maintain DRC, LVS, and PEX rule decks and PDK components.
• Translate process integration, device, and design requirements into verification and extraction solutions.
• Create regression suites and test methodologies to validate correctness, coverage, performance, and scalability.
• Analyze and debug DRC/LVS/PEX issues; perform root-cause analysis and coordinate fixes with process and EDA teams.
• Optimize verification and extraction flows for accuracy, runtime, memory, and deployability.
• Build automation and explore AI/ML-assisted methods for rule generation, test generation, coverage analysis, and anomaly detection.
• Drive PDK quality through qualification, documentation, change management, and feedback-driven improvements.
• Support Environmental, Health, Safety & Security (EHSS) requirements and collaborate on other projects as needed.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience required to perform the role.

• Practical experience with DRC and/or LVS rule development, coding, debugging, and qualification.
• Understanding of parasitic R/C extraction, interconnect modeling, layout-dependent effects, and their circuit impact.
• Working knowledge of CMOS process technologies, devices, layout design rules, and design-to-manufacturing interactions.
• Experience with industry physical-verification and extraction environments and rule-deck development methodologies.
• Proficiency with scripting or programming for automation and regression (Python, Tcl, Perl, shell scripting, or equivalent).
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills to perform structured root-cause analysis.
• Ability to collaborate with process, modeling, EDA vendors, and design teams to resolve verification and PDK issues.
• Travel up to 10% and fluency in written and verbal English.
• Nice-to-have: experience with automation frameworks, rule-coverage metrics, PEX technology-file development, and AI/ML applied to design enablement.

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Microelectronics, Computer Science, Applied Physics, or a related technical field. Preferred: Master's degree or PhD in the same or related fields.

About the Company

Company: GlobalFoundries

Headquarters: Saratoga Springs, New York, USA

GlobalFoundries is a leading contract manufacturer for the global semiconductor industry, with facilities in multiple countries, including the USA. The company develops a broad portfolio of semiconductor technologies and employs around 13,000 people worldwide. GlobalFoundries focuses on enhancing competitiveness in specialized application solutions and fostering innovation in mobile communications, consumer electronics, and automotive applications.