Senior Lead Physical Design Engineer
QualcommJob Title
Senior Lead Physical Design Engineer
Role Summary
Lead and execute physical design and static timing analysis (STA) work for CPU domain blocks. Deliver floorplan-to-signoff implementation, timing closure, ECOs, and PPA optimization while collaborating with verification, RTL, CAD and product teams.
Experience Level
Senior-level. Preferred experience is 5+ years in physical design and STA, particularly in CPU design; the role expects an experienced engineer capable of independently driving timing signoff and complex ECO flows.
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include:
- Perform physical implementation from floorplan through place-and-route to timing signoff.
- Execute STA flows and timing closure across multiple PVT corners and modes.
- Prepare and apply complex ECOs (Tweaker/Tempus/physical ECOs) for timing convergence.
- Analyze and mitigate IR drop and physical verification issues affecting signoff.
- Optimize power, performance, and area (PPA) and recommend implementation trade-offs.
- Develop automation and scripts to improve physical design productivity.
- Collaborate with RTL, CAD, verification and product teams to meet schedules and quality targets.
Requirements
Must-have and preferred technical skills:
- Must-have: 5+ years experience in physical design and STA in CPU or similar high-performance ASIC blocks.
- Must-have: Practical experience with industry physical implementation and signoff tools (e.g., Genus, Innovus, Fusion Compiler, PrimeTime, Tempus, Voltus, RedHawk).
- Must-have: Proven ability from floorplan to PRO and timing signoff; hands-on ECO creation across many corners.
- Must-have: Strong fundamentals in timing, power, and physical verification interactions.
- Must-have: Proficiency in scripting/automation (Perl, TCL).
- Nice-to-have: Experience with deep submicron process nodes and techniques for high-performance and low-power implementation.
Education Requirements
Minimum qualifications specify one of the following degree-plus-experience combinations: Bachelor's in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering or related field with 3+ years of hardware engineering experience; OR Master's in those fields with 2+ years' experience; OR PhD in those fields with 1+ year of experience. The posting allows related fields; no explicit mention of alternate certifications was provided.
About the Company
Company: Qualcomm
Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.
