Senior / Lead Physical Design Engineer

Job Description

We are looking for a highly experienced and hands-on Senior / Lead Physical Design Engineer to drive backend implementation, signoff quality, methodology development, and project execution across our ASIC programs.

This role combines technical leadership with hands-on execution. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining implementation strategies, establishing Physical Design and Physical Verification methodologies, reviewing and guiding work performed by contractors and external vendors, and ensuring successful execution from RTL handoff through tapeout.

The ideal candidate is a strong shift-left thinker who can proactively identify implementation risks, influence architectural decisions, and drive scalable solutions while remaining deeply involved in technical problem solving.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Project Execution

• Lead Physical Design activities from project planning through tapeout.
• Define implementation strategies, milestones, and execution plans.
• Work closely with contractors, consultants, and external implementation partners to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Review implementation progress, identify risks, and drive corrective actions.
• Provide technical leadership across Physical Design, STA, DFT, RTL, and CAD teams.
• Drive design reviews and implementation readiness reviews.

Physical Design Ownership

• Own block and full-chip implementation activities including:
  • Floorplanning
  • Power Planning
  • Placement
  • CTS
  • Routing
  • Timing Closure
  • ECO Implementation
  • Signoff Closure
• Drive performance, power, area, congestion, and timing optimization.

Physical Verification & Signoff

• Define and drive signoff methodology and closure strategy.
• Lead DRC, LVS, ERC, Antenna, Density, and Manufacturing rule closure.
• Review and sign off vendor deliverables related to physical verification.
• Debug complex signoff issues and drive root-cause resolution.

Methodology & Flow Development

• Develop and improve Physical Design methodologies, implementation recipes, and signoff flows.
• Drive automation initiatives to improve productivity and design quality.
• Establish best practices, checklists, and execution guidelines across projects.
• Promote shift-left methodologies to improve backend predictability and reduce project risk.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Architecture, RTL, DFT, Verification, Packaging, CAD, and Product teams.
• Influence design decisions through implementation-aware feedback.
• Drive early risk identification and mitigation planning.
• Support customer, vendor, and management reviews when required.