Staff Physical Design Engineer - Custom Silicon Group
QualcommJob Title
Staff Physical Design Engineer - Custom Silicon Group
Role Summary
Lead physical design activities for custom SoC subsystems within the Custom Silicon Group. Own Netlist-to-GDS flow, floorplanning, place-and-route, sign-off convergence, and PPA delivery while coordinating with RTL, IP, verification and tapeout teams.
Work as an individual contributor and technical manager for small teams to meet project schedules and product performance targets.
Experience Level
Senior (Staff). Typically requires 8+ years of physical design experience in product-based companies; the role expects hands-on experience leading complex subsystem delivery and small teams.
Responsibilities
Primary accountabilities for this role include:
- Drive Netlist-to-GDS implementation: floorplan, placement, routing, and sign-off convergence.
- Execute Static Timing Analysis (STA) and implement sign-off timing optimizations.
- Implement low-power solutions (UPF, multi-voltage domains, power gating) and verify PPA impact.
- Integrate IP blocks and manage physical integration for complex subsystems/SoCs.
- Lead and coordinate small engineering teams for project execution and delivery.
- Automate flow and scripts to improve PPA and design turnaround.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with circuit design, verification, floorplanning, and test teams to resolve issues through tapeout.
Requirements
Minimum technical skills and experience (must-have items first):
- Proven Netlist2GDS experience including floorplan, PnR and sign-off convergence.
- Strong STA skills and sign-off timing optimization experience.
- Hands-on experience with low-power implementation: UPF, multi-voltage domains, power gating.
- Deep understanding of ASIC design flows, physical design methodologies, and deep sub-micron device/technology considerations.
- Experience across multiple advanced process technology nodes, including lower nodes.
- Proficiency in automation/scripting to improve PPA and design efficiency.
- Experience managing or mentoring small teams and driving subsystem-level PPA targets.
Education Requirements
Degree required: Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or a related technical field; alternative: equivalent practical experience. The posting lists degree-plus-experience options (e.g., Bachelor's +4 years, Master's +3 years, PhD +2 years) and also cites candidates with ~8 years of physical design experience from product-based companies. Preference for degrees from top-tier institutes.
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.
