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Contract Physical Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Physical Design Engineer

Phoenix, AZ

$135K - $139K/yr

Join Intel as a Physical Design Engineer and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of custom IP and SoC designs. As part of our dynamic team, you will work on cutting-edge technology to implement ...

New

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$144K - $148K/yr

Job Overview: The Graphics team is looking for Experienced Physical Design Engineers to work on Adreno Graphics cores in the area of Physical Implementation. Responsibilities: The Physical ...

$135K - $139K/yr

Join Intel as a Physical Design Engineer and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of custom IP and SoC designs. As part of our dynamic team, you will work on cutting-edge technology to implement ...

New

$135K - $139K/yr

Join Intel as a Physical Design Engineer and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cutting-edge semiconductor technology. In this role, you will be at the forefront of designing custom IP and ...

New

Physical Design Engineer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$135K - $139K/yr

Join Intel as a Physical Design Engineer and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of cutting-edge semiconductor technology. In this role, you will be at the forefront of designing custom IP and ...

New

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

Job Summary Etched is looking for exceptional Physical Design engineers to join our team. In this role, you will own block-level implementation and verification, drive timing closure and PPA ...

Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$162K - $166K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location: Sunnyvale, CA Note: Highlighted skills are must to have. JD: • 10+ years of hands-on experience for block level Implementation activities(Netlist to GDS II and ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

Job Summary Etched is looking for exceptional Physical Design engineers to join our team. In this role, you will own block-level implementation and verification, drive timing closure and PPA ...

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 ...

Physical Design Engineer

Westford, MA · On-site

$141K - $145K/yr

NVIDIA is looking for best-in-class Senior Physical Design Engineers to join our outstanding Networking Silicon engineering team, developing the industry's best high speed communication devices ...

About the Role We are seeking a highly skilled Physical Design Engineer with deep expertise in physical design and methodology. This individual contributor role sits within our physical design team ...

Physical Design Engineer

Westford, MA

$141K - $145K/yr

NVIDIA is looking for best-in-class Senior Physical Design Engineers to join our outstanding Networking Silicon engineering team, developing the industry's best high speed communication devices ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$144K - $148K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location : San Diego,CA Type : Full Time Job Overview: To do Floor planning, P&R, timing closure SI prevention/fixing, power planning, CTS, PV and I/R drop for Block as well ...

Physical Design Engineer

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

$148K - $152K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Job Location: Hillsboro, OR Job Type: Fulltime In this position, you will be developing and supporting mixed signal and custom digital hard IPs. The job will entail: files ...

Physical Design Engineer

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

$148K - $152K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Job Location: Hillsboro, OR Job Type: Fulltime In this position, you will be developing and supporting mixed signal and custom digital hard IPs. The job will entail: files ...

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Contract Physical Design Engineer information

See salary details

$95K

$141.5K

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

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract physical design engineer in the United States is $139,408.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,000.00 and $140,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract Physical Design Engineer, and why are they important?

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 Contract Physical Design Engineers?

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 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.
More about Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Contract Physical Design Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Design Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Physical Design Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Contract Physical Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 62% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,408 per year, or $67 per hour.
Physical Design Engineer

Physical Design Engineer

Intel

Phoenix, AZ

$135K - $139K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New


Intel rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 142 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

Job Details:Job Description: 

The world is transforming - and so is Intel. Intel is a company of bold and curious inventors and problem solvers who create some of the most astounding technology advancements and experiences in the world. With a legacy of relentless innovation and a commitment to bring smart, connected devices to every person on Earth, our diverse and brilliant teams are continually searching for tomorrow's technology and revel in the challenge that changing the world for the better brings. We work every single day to design and manufacture silicon products that empower people's digital lives. Come join us and do something wonderful.

The Role and Impact:
Join Intel as a Physical Design Engineer and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of custom IP and SoC designs. As part of our dynamic team, you will work on cutting-edge technology to implement designs from RTL to GDS, ensuring they are ready for manufacturing. Your contributions will directly influence the optimization of critical product parameters such as power, frequency, and area, supporting Intel's mission to deliver innovative and high-performance solutions to the market. This position offers an exciting opportunity to drive meaningful advancements in physical design methodologies and automation while collaborating with industry-leading experts.
Key Responsibilities:

  • Perform physical design implementation of custom IP and SoC designs, covering all aspects of the physical design flow, including synthesis, place and route, clock tree synthesis, floor planning, static timing analysis, and power/clock distribution.
  • Conduct verification and signoff processes, including formal equivalence verification, reliability verification, static and dynamic power integrity, layout verification, electrical rule checking, and structural design checking.
  • Analyze results and recommend fixes for violations to meet product design specifications and future architecture goals.
  • Optimize designs to enhance product-level parameters such as power, frequency, and area.
  • Develop and improve physical design methodologies and flow automation to achieve higher efficiency and scalability.
  • Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to address challenges in areas such as timing closure, physical clock design, multiple power domain analysis, and DFT implementation.
  • Utilize industry-standard EDA tools to ensure high-quality design implementation and validation.
Qualifications:

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates. Experience listed below would be obtained through a combination of your degree, research and or relevant previous job and or internship experiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related specialized field of study with 3+ years of hands-on experience in physical design implementation for custom IP or SoC designs OR a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related specialized field of study with 2+ years of hands-on experience in physical design implementation for custom IP or SoC design.
  • Proficiency in industry-standard EDA tools for synthesis, place and route, timing analysis, and layout verification.
  • Experience in physical design flows, including clock tree synthesis, floor planning, timing closure, and power integrity analysis.


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Physical design experience in integrated circuit design tools including logic synthesis, place and route, static timing analysis and design closure
  • Design experience with RTL design, and a thorough knowledge of timing closure processes to effectively analyze and optimize semiconductor device performance
  • Experience with scripting in an interpreted language (TCL)
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities


We invite you to bring your skills and perspective to Intel, where you'll be empowered to grow and make a meaningful impact in one of the most dynamic industries. Apply today to join our journey toward innovation and excellence.

Job Type:Experienced HireShift:Shift 1 (United States of America)Primary Location: US, Massachusetts, Beaver BrookAdditional Locations:US, Arizona, PhoenixBusiness group:At the Data Center Group (DCG), we're committed to delivering exceptional products and delighting our customers. We offer both broad-market Xeon-based solutions and custom x86-based products, ensuring tailored innovation for diverse needs across general-purpose compute, web services, HPC, and AI-accelerated systems. Our charter encompasses defining business strategy and roadmaps, product management, developing ecosystems and business opportunities, delivering strong financial performance, and reinvigorating x86 leadership. Join us as we transform the data center segment through workload driven leadership products and close collaboration with our partners.Posting Statement:All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.Position of TrustN/ABenefits

We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock bonuses, and benefit programs which include health, retirement, and vacation. Find out more about the benefits of working at Intel.

Annual Salary Range for jobs which could be performed in the US: $122,440.00-200,340.00 USDThe range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific compensation range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Work Model for this Role

This role will require an on-site presence. * Job posting details (such as work model, location or time type) are subject to change.

*

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Intel is committed to Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) compliance and ethical hiring practices. We do not charge any fees during our hiring process. Candidates should never be required to pay recruitment fees, medical examination fees, or any other charges as a condition of employment. If you are asked to pay any fees during our hiring process, please report this immediately to your recruiter.

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About Intel

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Intel strives to make every facet of semiconductor manufacturing state-of-the-art -- from semiconductor process development and manufacturing, through yield improvement to packaging, final test and optimization, and world class Supply Chain and facilities support. Employees in the Technology and Manufacturing Group are part of a worldwide network of design, development, manufacturing, and assembly/test facilities, all focused on utilizing the power of Moore's Law to bring smart, connected devices to every person on Earth

Industry

Manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Santa Clara, CA, US

Year founded

1968