AI enabled PDK Development Engineer
About The Position
GlobalFoundries is seeking an AI-Enabled PDK Development Engineer to develop, implement, test, and support AI-guided physical-verification, extraction, manufacturability, and design-documentation solutions. The engineer will collaborate with PDK development experts who provide domain expertise across LVS, DRC, PEX, OPC, and Design Manual development. The role applies Python, machine learning, large language models, code generation, natural-language processing, and software-development practices to improve efficiency and quality for advanced CMOS, cryogenic, quantum, photonic, and heterogeneous-integration technologies. Semiconductor or prior PDK experience is beneficial but not required. The position involves developing and maintaining PDK code and rule content, AI-guided rule-deck workflows, automated pipelines that transform approved requirements into rules and supporting materials, and testing and regression infrastructure. It also includes analyzing data and outputs to identify rule and model improvements, supporting deliverables in commercial EDA environments and PDK release flows, and collaborating with cross-functional technical teams to create accurate, maintainable, customer-usable design collateral. Travel is up to 10%.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Microelectronics, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
- Relevant experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, software engineering, data science, automation, or a closely related field. Approximately 2+ years for Level 5 and 3–5+ years for Level 6 are preferred; final requirements and leveling will be aligned with GF scoping guidelines. Relevant academic research, internships, co-ops, and substantial project experience may be considered.
- Strong Python programming and software-engineering skills, including maintainable code development, automated testing, debugging, version control, documentation, and integration of software components or workflows.
- Strong practical experience with AI/ML methods, large language models, code generation, natural-language processing, retrieval or knowledge-grounding techniques, optimization, or data analytics applied to engineering or software-development workflows.
- Ability to learn a highly technical domain, collaborate closely with subject-matter experts, and translate domain requirements into accurate, maintainable, testable software solutions.
- Proficiency with at least one additional programming language or development environment such as Tcl, Perl, C/C++, Java, or equivalent, and experience working in Linux/Unix environments.
- Ability to validate AI-generated outputs through deterministic checks, regression testing, expert review, version control, and documented acceptance criteria.
- Experience designing and executing automated tests, regression suites, acceptance criteria, and structured technical documentation for software or AI-enabled workflows.
- Fluency in written and verbal English.
- Willingness to travel up to 10%.
Nice To Haves
- Semiconductor, foundry, or PDK background, including familiarity with semiconductor device physics, process layers, devices, connectivity, geometry rules, parasitic effects, layout verification, and PDK release practices.
- Experience with EDA rule-deck development or physical-verification and extraction platforms for LVS, DRC, PEX, or OPC, such as Siemens Calibre, Synopsys IC Validator/StarRC, Cadence Pegasus/PVS/Quantus, or equivalent tools.
- Experience developing AI-assisted coding agents, retrieval-augmented generation, rule or code translation, automated test generation, static analysis, or engineering knowledge systems.
- Experience with foundry Design Manual development, machine-readable design-rule specifications, requirements traceability, or links among documentation, rule decks, and test cases.
- Knowledge of PCell and technology-file development, reliability rules, density/fill, antenna checking, electromagnetic extraction, or advanced-package/3DIC verification.
- Experience with cryogenic, quantum, photonic, superconducting, advanced packaging, or heterogeneous-integration design enablement.
- Familiarity with model governance, data provenance, secure use of proprietary design data, reproducibility, and responsible deployment of AI-enabled engineering methods.
- Experience with continuous integration/continuous delivery, containerized environments, issue-tracking systems, and automated PDK QA dashboards.
- Project execution and organizational skills, including contributing ideas, implementing practical solutions, collaborating effectively, and navigating ambiguity.
- Strong written and verbal communication, planning, and organizational skills.
Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, test, maintain, and support PDK code and rule content for LVS, DRC, PEX, OPC, and associated Design Manual requirements.
- Apply AI-guided methods to generate, translate, review, debug, optimize, and regression-test rule-deck code under expert review, traceability, and release controls.
- Implement, test, and support automated pipelines that convert approved process and design requirements into structured rules, test cases, documentation, and quality evidence.
- Contribute to representative positive and negative test layouts, golden reference results, coverage metrics, and regression suites for physical-verification and extraction deliverables.
- Use machine learning, natural-language processing, code generation, and data analytics to identify rule gaps, inconsistencies, duplicate content, likely failure modes, and opportunities to accelerate development.
- Analyze and correlate PEX and OPC outputs with silicon, process, metrology, electromagnetic, and simulation data as applicable, and contribute to improvements in model and rule fidelity.
- Implement, test, document, and support deliverables in commercial EDA environments and PDK release flows using version control, continuous integration, issue tracking, change management, and release documentation.
- Collaborate with process integration, device, modeling, mask, lithography, design enablement, PDK, EDA, and circuit-design teams to translate technology requirements into accurate, maintainable, customer-usable design collateral.
- Perform all activities safely and responsibly and support Environmental, Health, Safety & Security requirements and programs.
- Work and collaborate on other projects or assignments as needed.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
