Senior Engineer, Design Enablement (PDK)

Job Title

Senior Engineer, Design Enablement (PDK)

Role Summary

The Senior Design Enablement Engineer develops and maintains PDK components with emphasis on DFM rule decks, density/fill solutions, and verification infrastructure to support manufacturing, yield, and reliability requirements.

The role is part of the Design and Technology Enablement team in Sofia and collaborates with Process Integration, Physical Verification, Design Services, and EDA vendors to deliver multiple PDK releases on schedule.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Typical experience expectations provided by the employer: BS + 2–4 years; MS + 1–3 years; PhD + 0–1 year.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities focus on PDK DFM and fill deliverables, verification, and automation.

• Develop and maintain DFM rule decks targeting manufacturability, yield improvement, and reliability.
• Define and deploy new DFM methodologies in collaboration with Process Integration and Technology Development teams.
• Create, validate, and release density and fill solutions for new and existing PDKs.
• Support multiple PDK releases and ensure delivery aligned with technology schedules.
• Develop and maintain QA methodologies, test plans, and validation suites for DFM and fill components.
• Work with EDA tool vendors to verify DFM/fill flows and resolve technical issues.
• Investigate and resolve customer-reported issues related to DFM and PDK components.
• Develop scripts and automation to improve productivity and reduce development cycle time.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to raise PDK release quality and efficiency.

Requirements

Key qualifications and skills for successful performance.

Must-have:

• Fundamental knowledge of semiconductor processes and device manufacturing.
• Practical experience with PDK components, DFM rule development, or physical verification workflows.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills in English and ability to work in a global, collaborative team.
• Familiarity with EDA tools and collaboration with tool vendors for verification and issue resolution.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with scripting languages (Python, Perl, Tcl, Bash) and automation frameworks.
• Experience or interest in ML / Generative AI applied to EDA or design enablement tasks.
• Previous exposure to DFM fill/density algorithms and automated validation suites.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, Physics, Computer Science or equivalent; Master's or PhD in a related technical field also accepted. Employer specifies typical experience-to-degree mapping: BS + 2–4 years, MS + 1–3 years, PhD + 0–1 year. Equivalent practical experience considered.

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.