CPU Physical Design Engineer

Intel•Austin, TX

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Intel is hiring an early-career CPU Physical Design Engineer to contribute to the physical design and verification of high-performance, power-efficient CPU designs from RTL to GDSII. The engineer will work alongside experienced engineers, gain hands-on experience with industry-standard EDA tools, and develop expertise in synthesis, floorplanning, place and route, clock implementation, static timing analysis, power optimization, and physical verification. The role collaborates with engineers in logic design, architecture, circuits, and design automation, and provides opportunities to take on increasingly complex CPU design challenges. The position is based in Austin, Texas, and is eligible for Intel’s hybrid work model, which splits time between the assigned Intel site and off-site work. The listed annual salary range for U.S. locations is $105,650 to $200,340; individual pay depends on work location and factors such as skills, experience, and education or training. Intel describes its total compensation package as including competitive pay, stock bonuses, and health, retirement, and vacation benefits.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field and 3 or more years of relevant experience; alternatively, a master’s degree in the same field and 1 or more years of relevant educational or work experience.
Experience with at least one successful tape-out using advanced technology nodes, experience with industry-standard EDA tools such as Synopsys and/or Cadence for physical design flows, or scripting skills in Python, Perl, or TCL for design automation. The posting states experience must be in one or more of these areas.
Demonstrated learning agility, curiosity, structured problem-solving, collaboration, initiative and ownership, clear communication, attention to detail, and adaptability.

Nice To Haves

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Background in physical design verification methodologies, including DRC/LVS verification.
Familiarity with layout design rules of advanced process nodes for high-performance CPUs.
Graduate-level coursework in VLSI design or computer architecture.
Exposure to or coursework in AI.

Responsibilities

Implement physical design and verification flows for custom CPU designs, from RTL synthesis through GDS generation, including custom and memory designs.
Perform verification and signoff, including formal equivalence verification, layout verification, reliability verification, and timing and power integrity analysis.
Collaborate with logic, architecture, circuit, and design automation teams to identify design improvements and optimize power, frequency, and area.
Build and refine physical design methodologies and automation workflows.
Work with EDA vendors to enhance tool capabilities for high-speed, low-power CPU design.