Senior Principal Engineer, Physical Design
About The Position
As a senior leader in the central physical design team, you will shape the long-term vision for physical design capabilities and infrastructure in alignment with company-wide technology strategy. You will lead RTL-to-GDSII implementation for multiple SoC programs, overseeing synthesis, floorplanning, power grid design, place and route, clock tree synthesis, timing closure, power/signal integrity signoff, and physical verification (DRC/LVS). You will provide strategic leadership and technical direction to physical design teams, ensuring successful and timely tapeouts of complex, high-performance SoCs. You will mentor and develop engineering talent, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. You will oversee team structure, hiring, performance management, and career development to build and retain a high-performing physical design organization. You will drive cross-functional collaboration with design teams to influence design decisions and ensure successful project execution. You will navigate and resolve cross-functional conflicts effectively, fostering alignment and maintaining momentum across diverse teams. You will drive the development and adoption of next-generation physical design methodologies, flows, and automation to improve productivity and design quality. You will manage project schedules, resources, and risk, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer requirements. You will represent the physical design function in cross-org and executive-level discussions, contributing to long-term technology and product strategy. You will collaborate with EDA vendors and internal CAD teams to evaluate and deploy new tools and technologies.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
- 15+ years of progressive experience in back-end physical design and verification, including significant leadership roles.
- Proven track record of leading and scaling physical design teams, managing complex SoC projects, and delivering high-quality tapeouts under aggressive schedules.
- Deep expertise in hierarchical physical design strategies, methodologies, and advanced process node challenges.
- In-depth understanding of current design technologies used in major foundries.
- Strong understanding of ASIC design flow, RTL integration, synthesis, and timing closure.
- In-depth knowledge of modern EDA tools and flows.
- Proficient in automation and scripting using Makefile, Tcl, Python, or Perl to enhance design efficiency and flow robustness.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders.
- Experience in developing and deploying advanced physical design methodologies and flows.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with AI/ML-driven optimization in physical design tools is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Shape the long-term vision for physical design capabilities and infrastructure in alignment with company-wide technology strategy.
- Lead RTL-to-GDSII implementation for multiple SoC programs, overseeing synthesis, floorplanning, power grid design, place and route, clock tree synthesis, timing closure, power/signal integrity signoff, and physical verification (DRC/LVS).
- Provide strategic leadership and technical direction to physical design teams, ensuring successful and timely tapeouts of complex, high-performance SoCs.
- Mentor and develop engineering talent, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee team structure, hiring, performance management, and career development to build and retain a high-performing physical design organization.
- Drive cross-functional collaboration with design teams to influence design decisions and ensure successful project execution.
- Navigate and resolve cross-functional conflicts effectively, fostering alignment and maintaining momentum across diverse teams.
- Drive the development and adoption of next-generation physical design methodologies, flows, and automation to improve productivity and design quality.
- Manage project schedules, resources, and risk, ensuring alignment with business goals and customer requirements.
- Represent the physical design function in cross-org and executive-level discussions, contributing to long-term technology and product strategy.
- Collaborate with EDA vendors and internal CAD teams to evaluate and deploy new tools and technologies.
Benefits
- employee stock purchase plan with a 2-year look back
- family support programs
- robust mental health resources
- recognition and service awards
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
