Senior Physical Design Engineer (CPU)
Intel CorporationJob Title
Senior Physical Design Engineer (CPU)
Role Summary
Senior engineer responsible for physical implementation of CPU core blocks from RTL to GDS. Work on high-performance, power-efficient silicon at advanced process nodes and coordinate with RTL, verification, clocking, and full-chip teams to deliver production-quality designs.
Experience Level
Senior — typical experience guidance: 7+ years with a Bachelor's degree or 4+ years with a Master's degree in a relevant field.
Responsibilities
Deliver and optimize physical design for CPU blocks and improve implementation methodologies.
- Own synthesis, floorplanning, placement, routing, and design closure for assigned CPU blocks or subsystems.
- Perform static timing analysis (STA), power analysis, and physical verification; drive PPA (performance, power, area) convergence.
- Debug and resolve complex design issues across synthesis, implementation, and verification stages.
- Develop and maintain automation scripts and optimized design flows.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with RTL, verification, clocking, and full-chip teams for integration.
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to methodology and best-practice improvements.
Requirements
Key technical must-haves and preferred experience.
- Must-have: Hands-on experience with IC design tool flows (Synopsys or Cadence): logic synthesis, place-and-route, STA, and design closure.
- Proven experience with PV convergence, including static timing and power analysis.
- Chip physical design verification experience: DRC/LVS, timing and electrical checks, noise and electromigration analysis, and formal equivalence understanding.
- Scripting skills: TCL plus at least one other interpreted language (Python, Perl, Ruby, etc.).
- Experience synthesizing digital logic blocks integrated into large SoCs or IP and working across RTL-to-GDS flows.
- Preferred: Exposure to CPU micro-architecture, advanced floorplanning/routing and clock distribution techniques, RTL-to-GDS methodologies, and familiarity with Synopsys (Fusion Compiler, ICC2, PrimeTime) or Cadence (Genus/Innovus) tool suites.
- Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field with 7+ years of relevant work experience; or a Master's degree in the same fields with 4+ years of relevant work experience. The posting does not list certifications or explicit equivalent-experience language beyond these degree-plus-experience requirements.
About the Company
Company: Intel Corporation
Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA
Intel Corporation is a leading multinational technology company known for its innovative semiconductor solutions, including microprocessors, artificial intelligence accelerators, and memory products. Headquartered in the United States, Intel focuses on cutting-edge technology and a collaborative working environment, driving advancements in semiconductor manufacturing to meet global demands. The company emphasizes professional development and aims to shape the future of technology through groundbreaking designs.
