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Contract Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX

Hudson River Trading

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Hudson River Trading (HRT) is seeking a Physical Design Engineer with a broad, versatile skillset to join our growing Hardware team. In this role, you will help deliver performance-critical ASICs and ...

Tenstorrent

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$100K - $500K/yr

Tenstorrent is seeking a talented Physical Design Engineer to implement high-performance blocks for our industry-leading CPU and AI/ML architectures. You'll own the complete implementation flow from ...

Cisco

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$167K - $245K/yr

Your Impact As a Physical Design Engineer, you will play a key role in the full RTL-to-GDSII implementation flow for advanced semiconductor nodes. You will optimize floor planning and timing, analyze ...

Tenstorrent

Staff Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$100K - $500K/yr

Tenstorrent is seeking talented Physical Design Engineers to implement high-performance blocks for our industry-leading CPU and AI/ML architectures. You'll own the complete implementation flow from ...

Tenstorrent

Physical Design Engineer, PnR

Austin, TX · On-site

$100K - $500K/yr

Tenstorrent is seeking talented Physical Design Engineers to implement high-performance partitions for an industry-leading AI SOC. You'll own the complete implementation flow from synthesis to ...

Apple

GPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands-on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

Apple

GPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX

$134K - $138K/yr

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands-on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

Intel

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX

$134K - $138K/yr

Chip physical design verification including formal equivalence, electrical rules, DRC/LVS, and Noise flow. * TCL Scripting. Preferred Qualifications: * Master's Degree in Computer Engineering or ...

Intel Corporation

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Chip physical design verification including formal equivalence, electrical rules, DRC/LVS, and Noise flow. * TCL Scripting. Preferred Qualifications: * Master's Degree in Computer Engineering or ...

Intel Corporation

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design ... Bachelors in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering or related field with 6+ years of ...

Apple

GPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands-on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

Tenstorrent

Top Level Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$100K - $500K/yr

Tenstorrent is seeking an exceptional Senior-level Physical Design Engineer to drive top-level implementation of our complex AI and CPU System-on-Chip designs. You'll orchestrate cross-disciplinary ...

Intel Corporation

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design ... Bachelors in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering or related field with 3+ years of ...

Apple

GPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands-on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

Intel

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design ... Bachelors in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering or related field with 3+ years of ...

Intel

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design ... Bachelors in Computer Engineering or Electrical Engineering or related field with 6+ years of ...

Apple

GPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands-on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

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All JobsContract Physical Design Engineer JobsContract Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX

Contract Physical Design Engineer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$94.2K

$140.3K

How much do contract physical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract physical design engineer in Austin, TX is $138,183.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,800.00 and $138,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract physical design engineer?

Contract Physical Design Engineers are professionals who specialize in the layout and implementation of integrated circuits (ICs) for semiconductor devices, typically working on a temporary or project-based basis. They focus on transforming circuit designs into physical layouts that can be fabricated on silicon chips, ensuring optimal performance, power, and area efficiency. Their work involves tasks such as floorplanning, placement, routing, timing analysis, and design rule checking. Contract roles allow companies flexibility in staffing for specific projects or peak development periods, and engineers in these positions often work for consulting firms or as independent contractors.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract physical design engineer?

A Contract Physical Design Engineer typically requires a solid background in electrical engineering, strong knowledge of VLSI design, and hands-on experience with ASIC or FPGA physical implementation. Familiarity with EDA tools such as Synopsys ICC2, Cadence Innovus, and scripting languages like Tcl and Perl, as well as understanding of industry standards, is crucial. Standout soft skills include strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication for collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure the engineer can deliver optimized, manufacturable chip layouts on time and within specification, which is vital for project and product success.

What are some common challenges faced by contract physical design engineers when joining new projects or teams?

Contract Physical Design Engineers often need to quickly adapt to new workflows, proprietary tools, and unique design methodologies used by different clients or teams. They may also face tight project timelines and the need to rapidly understand complex chip architectures. Effective communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as verification and RTL design engineers, are critical to ensure design hand-offs and resolve issues efficiently. Flexibility, strong organizational skills, and a proactive approach to learning new environments are key to overcoming these challenges.

What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in Austin, TX?

The most popular types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in Austin, TX are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Austin, TX?

For Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Austin, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Austin, TX are:

What cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs?

Cities near Austin, TX with the most Contract Physical Design Engineer job openings:

Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Physical Design Engineer job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 44% Full Time, and 56% Contract. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $138,183 per year, or $66.4 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer

Hudson River Trading

Austin, TX • On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

Hudson River Trading (HRT) is seeking a Physical Design Engineer with a broad, versatile skillset to join our growing Hardware team. In this role, you will help deliver performance-critical ASICs and advance our physical design methodologies on leading-edge process nodes.
The Hardware team at HRT builds high-performance compute engines using FPGA and ASIC technology to drive low-latency trading decisions on global markets. We create custom solutions across the full spectrum of speed and sophistication, from bespoke circuits to world-class machine learning accelerators.
Responsibilities
  • Drive design-for-test (DFT) methodologies and implementation
  • Contribute to physical implementation, from RTL handoff through GDSII on advanced process nodes
  • Partner on floorplanning and physical optimization for high-performance, latency-critical designs
  • Close timing across multiple modes and corners while optimizing power, performance, and area (PPA)
  • Diagnose and resolve physical design issues such as timing bottlenecks, congestion, and IR/EM violations
  • Build, maintain, and improve repeatable, automated physical design flows
  • Develop scripts and tooling to improve productivity, robustness, and insight into design behavior
  • Collaborate closely with RTL, architecture, and other hardware engineers to influence design decisions early

Qualifications
  • Experience working in high-performance ASIC design environments
  • Strong fundamentals in digital logic, circuit design, and process technology
  • Familiarity with DFT concepts and testing methodologies
  • Strong scripting and automation skills (Python, Tcl, shell), including parsing and analyzing tool outputs
  • Ability to design robust methodologies, diagnose complex failures, and improve physical design flows
  • Applied use of statistics in analyzing timing, power, or design data (preferred)
  • Hands-on experience with static timing analysis and timing closure methodologies
  • Expertise using industry-standard physical design and signoff tools (e.g., Innovus, PrimeTime)

This job is accepting ongoing applications and there is no application deadline.
The estimated base salary range for this position is 200,000 to 300,000 USD per year (or local equivalent). The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
This role will also be eligible for discretionary performance-based bonuses and a competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, and enrollment in our company's retirement savings plans. Employees will receive sick and parental leave, as well as other paid time off (including 20 vacation days and 10 paid holidays in the US). Please note that benefits and time off policies will vary across non-US locations.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Culture
Hudson River Trading (HRT) brings a scientific approach to trading financial products. We have built one of the world's most sophisticated computing environments for research and development. Our researchers are at the forefront of innovation in the world of algorithmic trading.
At HRT we welcome a variety of expertise: mathematics and computer science, physics and engineering, media and tech. We're a community of self-starters who are motivated by the excitement of being at the cutting edge of automation in every part of our organization-from trading, to business operations, to recruiting and beyond. We value openness and transparency, and celebrate great ideas from HRT veterans and new hires alike. At HRT we're friends and colleagues - whether we are sharing a meal, playing the latest board game, or writing elegant code. We embrace a culture of togetherness that extends far beyond the walls of our office.
Feel like you belong at HRT? Our goal is to find the best people and bring them together to do great work in a place where everyone is valued. HRT is proud of our diverse staff; we have offices all over the globe and benefit from our varied and unique perspectives. HRT is an equal opportunity employer; so whoever you are we'd love to get to know you.
Please be advised: Use of AI tools during interviews or assessments is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise instructed or agreed upon. We employ various methods to evaluate the authenticity of candidate responses. If we determine that AI assistance was used during any stage of the hiring process, we reserve the right to immediately disqualify your candidacy or rescind any job offers extended.

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