SoC Physical Design Engineer, Staff - HM PD team
QualcommJob Title
SoC Physical Design Engineer, Staff - HM PD team
Role Summary
Senior physical design engineer on the HM PD team responsible for SoC and subsystem place-and-route, sign-off convergence, and PPA optimization for advanced-node ASICs. The role includes leading a small team, driving automation, and coordinating with IP, circuit, and verification teams to deliver tapeout-ready designs.
Experience Level
Senior. The posting references multi-year experience in hardware/physical design; typical guidance ranges from about 6 to 10+ years of relevant experience depending on degree level.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead physical implementation from synthesis through place-and-route to sign-off, including STA and sign-off optimizations.
- Manage complex SoC/subsystem physical design and a small engineering team.
- Integrate IP blocks and drive PPA improvements (performance, power, area).
- Implement low-power design techniques such as UPF, multi-voltage domains, and power gating.
- Address circuit-level and device-physics issues relevant to deep sub-micron/advanced nodes.
- Develop and apply automation and scripting to improve PPA and design flow efficiency.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet tapeout schedules and quality targets.
Requirements
Must-have:
- Proven experience in physical design flows: synthesis, place-and-route, sign-off, and STA.
- Experience delivering demanding PPA targets for complex SoC/subsystem designs and performing IP integration.
- Hands-on low-power implementation experience (UPF, multi-voltage domains, power gating).
- Understanding of circuit design, device physics, and issues in advanced technology nodes.
- Experience managing or leading small teams and driving subsystem delivery.
- Practical experience using automation to improve PPA and design throughput.
Nice-to-have:
- Experience across multiple advanced process nodes.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or a related technical field. The posting specifies Bachelor's +6+ years (some lines cite 8–10 years for physical design), Master's +5+ years, or PhD +4+ years of hardware engineering or related experience.
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.
