Senior Digital Backend (Place & Route) Layout Engineer

Job Title

Senior Digital Backend (Place & Route) Layout Engineer

Role Summary

Lead and execute the digital backend physical-design flow from synthesis through GDSII for advanced-node ASICs. Focus on placement, routing, timing closure, and physical verification while collaborating with frontend design and verification teams.

Work on semiconductor designs for space communications systems, optimizing area, power, and performance to meet tight project schedules and quality standards.

Experience Level

Senior-level; 5+ years of digital backend (place & route) design experience with tape-out experience at advanced process nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities in the backend physical-design flow and cross-team integration.

• Manage end-to-end backend physical implementation: floorplanning, placement, routing, and timing optimization.
• Perform Static Timing Analysis (STA) and drive timing closure with frontend and verification teams.
• Optimize designs for power efficiency, area, and performance; perform clock tree synthesis, IR drop, and EM analyses.
• Ensure DRC, LVS, and parasitic extraction (PEX) compliance and coordinate physical verification efforts.
• Use and customize EDA tools for P&R, STA, and verification; develop automation and flows via scripting.
• Collaborate with digital, verification, and RF/analog layout teams to integrate all components.
• Maintain documentation of methodologies, flows, and results; report to project leads and management.

Requirements

Essential skills and experience required for the role.

• 5+ years in digital backend design with demonstrated P&R and tape-out experience in advanced process nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm).
• Proficiency with physical-design tools such as Cadence Innovus, Synopsys ICC2, Mentor Calibre, or equivalent.
• Strong expertise in timing analysis, STA, clock tree synthesis, IR drop analysis, and EM checks.
• Experience with physical verification flows, including DRC, LVS, and parasitic extraction (PEX).
• Scripting experience for flow automation using TCL, Python, or Perl.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Education Requirements

Preferred: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. (Degree is listed as a bonus/preferred qualification in the source.)

About the Company

Company: E-Space

Headquarters: Saratoga, CA, United States

E-Space develops low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems to enable hyper-scaled Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. The company designs advanced satellite hardware and communication systems to reduce costs, improve scalability, and deliver actionable intelligence from space.