Senior Lead Physical Design Engineer

Job Title

Senior Lead Physical Design Engineer

Role Summary

Responsible for placement and routing (PNR) implementation for Qualcomm SoCs within the ASICS Engineering team. Deliver floorplanning, placement, CTS, optimization, signoff preparation, and post-route closure on advanced process nodes.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The role expects experienced ASIC/physical-design engineers with multiple years of PNR and signoff experience (see Requirements for specific guidance).

Responsibilities

Primary duties and ownership areas for the role.

• Own PNR implementation for SoC blocks: floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, ECOs, and post-route fixes.
• Drive timing closure and signoff flows (STA) and coordinate power and physical verification signoff activities.
• Perform placement/CTS optimization and implement timing/power improvements for latest technology nodes.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams for integration, verification, and power/timing signoff.
• Troubleshoot P&R issues, analyze results, and implement corrective actions to meet performance and power targets.
• Develop and maintain automation and scripts to support PNR and signoff flows.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience.

• 5+ years of hardware engineering experience; significant experience with PNR flows on advanced nodes (examples: 4nm/5nm/7nm/10nm).
• Hands-on experience with floorplanning, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), and STA flows.
• Signoff expertise: static timing analysis (STA), power analysis, formal verification (FV), and low-power verification.
• Familiarity with signoff domains and closure concerns (LEC, CLP, PDN).
• Proficient with Unix/Linux environments and scripting (Perl, TCL).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to learn quickly and work independently on complex PNR tasks.

Education Requirements

Degree in Science, Engineering, or related field recommended: Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD. The posting specifies degree-based minimums: Bachelor's +3 years, Master's +2 years, or PhD +1 year of relevant ASIC/PNR experience; equivalent practical experience is acceptable.

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.