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Entry Level Physical Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII.","responsibilities":"Generate ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII.","responsibilities":"Generate ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Physical Design Engineer Etched is looking for exceptional PD engineers to join our team. The candidate will be responsible for working with 3rd party design services to implement and verify physical ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Physical Design Engineer Etched is looking for exceptional PD engineers to join our team. The candidate will be responsible for working with 3rd party design services to implement and verify physical ...

Mirafra Technology

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 ...

Mirafra Technology

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 ...

Scadea Solutions Inc

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$144K - $148K/yr

PHYSICAL DESIGN Engineer Work Location -San Diego , CA Duration: 6+ Months Experience: 8-10Yrs Start Date- Immediate • Floor planning, P&R, timing closure SI prevention/fixing, power planning, CTS ...

Intelliswift Software

Physical Design Engineer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$135K - $139K/yr

Python Programming Language - * Physical Design Develop & own physical design implementation of multi-hierarchy low-power designs including physical-aware logic synthesis, design for testability ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer (Cupertino)

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$126K - $190K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

TSMC

Physical Design Engineer (7452)

San Jose, CA

$155K - $160K/yr

Overview of Role Are you a highly motivated and skilled Physical Design Engineer with at least 3 years of industrial experience eager to push the boundaries of semiconductor technology? Join our ...

TSMC

Physical Design Engineer (7452)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$155K - $160K/yr

Overview of Role Are you a highly motivated and skilled Physical Design Engineer with at least 3 years of industrial experience eager to push the boundaries of semiconductor technology? Join our ...

Embtel Inc

Physical Design Engineer (Remote)

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Locations : Sunnyvale, CA/Portland, OR (Remote) No. of positions: 11 Duration: 6+ Months Contract Role Solid experience in place & route flow (placement guidelines, clock ...

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All JobsEntry Level Physical Design Engineer Jobs

Entry Level Physical Design Engineer information

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$30K

$69.4K

$118K

How much do entry level physical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level physical design engineer in the United States is $69,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Entry Level Physical Design Engineer do?

An Entry Level Physical Design Engineer works on the layout and implementation of integrated circuits (ICs), specifically focusing on translating logical circuit designs into physical layouts that can be manufactured. Their responsibilities often include tasks such as floorplanning, placement, routing, timing analysis, and design rule checking using specialized software tools. They collaborate with other engineers to ensure that the chip meets performance, power, and area requirements. Entry-level engineers are typically involved in supporting more experienced team members while learning industry-standard design flows and tools. This role plays a crucial part in bringing new electronic products to market.

What are some common challenges Entry Level Physical Design Engineers face when transitioning from academic projects to industry roles?

Entry Level Physical Design Engineers often find that real-world projects are larger in scale and complexity compared to academic assignments. Adapting to industry-standard tools like Cadence or Synopsys, managing strict deadlines, and collaborating within multidisciplinary teams can be challenging at first. Additionally, understanding and following established workflows, as well as dealing with the nuances of process technology and design constraints, require a steep learning curve. However, many companies provide mentorship and training to help new engineers integrate smoothly and develop their expertise.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Physical Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Physical Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital logic design, and VLSI concepts, typically supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics for layout, synthesis, and verification, as well as scripting languages such as TCL or Python, is essential. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and attention to detail are standout soft skills for this role. These skills ensure the efficient translation of circuit designs into manufacturable layouts, driving successful chip development and collaboration in complex engineering environments.

What is the difference between Entry Level Physical Design Engineer vs Digital IC Design Engineer?

AspectEntry Level Physical Design EngineerDigital IC Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or Computer EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, CAD tools, chip fabrication facilitiesDesign teams, simulation tools, hardware labs
Industry UsageFoundries, semiconductor companies, EDA firmsSemiconductor companies, integrated circuit design firms
Common Search IntentEntry level, physical implementation, chip layoutDigital logic, circuit design, RTL coding

Entry Level Physical Design Engineers focus on translating digital circuit designs into physical layouts, ensuring manufacturability and performance. Digital IC Design Engineers primarily work on designing digital circuits at the RTL level. While both roles require a background in electrical engineering and involve working with semiconductor companies, physical design emphasizes layout and fabrication, whereas digital design emphasizes circuit functionality and logic.

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Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs near you
Physical Design Engineer

Physical Design Engineer

RAVIN IT SOLUTIONS, Inc

Mountain View, CA • On-site

$159K - $163K/yr

Other

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Physical Design Engineer (PD / PnR / PPA / Timing Closure)
Location: Mountain View CA (Onsite)

Job Description
We are looking for a Physical Design Engineer with strong expertise in Place & Route (PnR), Power-Performance-Area (PPA) optimization, and timing convergence for advanced technology nodes.

Key Responsibilities
• Drive block-level physical design implementation from netlist to GDSII.
• Perform floor planning, power planning, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), routing, and physical verification.
• Optimize designs for Power, Performance, and Area (PPA) targets.
• Achieve timing closure across multiple corners and modes.
• Analyze and resolve setup, hold, transition, capacitance, and noise violations.
• Develop and maintain timing constraints (SDC) and STA signoff methodologies.
• Perform EMIR (Electromigration & IR Drop) analysis and closure.
• Collaborate with RTL, DFT, STA, and Signoff teams to ensure successful tapeout.
• Debug physical design issues and drive design convergence within project schedules.

Required Skills
• Strong experience in Physical Design and PnR flow.
• Hands-on expertise in:
o Floor planning
o Placement & Optimization
o Clock Tree Synthesis (CTS)
o Routing
o Timing Closure
o Static Timing Analysis (STA)
o Timing Constraints (SDC)
o EMIR Analysis
o PPA Optimization
• Experience with industry-standard EDA tools such as:
o Synopsys Fusion Compiler / ICC2
o PrimeTime
o Cadence Innovus (optional)
o Red Hawk / Voltus (EMIR)
• Good understanding of low-power design techniques and signoff methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor''s or Master''s degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering.
• Experience in advanced nodes (7nm/5nm/3nm preferred).
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional silicon teams.

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