Entry Level Physical Design Engineer Jobs in California

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 dynamic Test Chip Physical Implementation team in San Jose, CA, and play a critical role in bringing TSMC's most advanced process nodes (A16/A14/A10) to life. This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer with a strong foundation in VLSI design, a passion for innovation, and hands-on experience with cutting-edge EDA tools. You will be instrumental in the physical implementation and tapeout of complex test vehicles, contributing directly to the future of high-performance computing and advanced electronics.

Responsibilities

• Drive the end-to-end physical implementation and tapeout of test vehicles on TSMC's leading-edge process nodes (A16/A14/A10).
• Execute comprehensive physical design flows from netlist-to-GDS, including:
• Block and SoC-level floorplanning, power grid implementation, and low-power structure integration.
• Advanced placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), and routing for optimal performance and congestion management.
• Extensive design optimization for power, performance, and area (PPA) targets.
• Perform rigorous design signoff verification, encompassing:
• RC extraction, Static Timing Analysis (STA), IR/EM analysis (IREM), Design Rule Check (DRC), Layout Versus Schematic (LVS), Electrical Rule Check (ERC), and Voltage-Aware Layout Parasitic (VCLP) analysis.
• Achieve robust timing closure, physical design closure, and power/signal integrity closure based on comprehensive signoff verification results.
• Actively contribute to the development and evaluation of advanced methodologies and flows to meet aggressive PPA goals.
• Develop and enhance CAD automation scripts and dashboards using TCL, Python, CSH, and other scripting languages to streamline design flows and ensure quality monitoring.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including RTL, DFT, and CAD, to provide insightful feedback and ensure seamless integration throughout the design cycle.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's Degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science, with a strong academic background in VLSI-related coursework and projects.
• A minimum of 3 years of industrial experience in physical design or a closely related field within the semiconductor industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in digital circuit concepts and a deep understanding of the full physical design implementation flow (auto placement and route, STA, layout design, physical verification, IREM signoff).
• Hands-on experience with major EDA tools from Synopsys (e.g., ICC2, DC, Primetime, StarRC, ICV) and Cadence (e.g., Innovus, Virtuoso, SimVision).
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, TCL, CSH, Verilog, and Unix shell scripting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly.
• Positive, collaborative, self-motivated, and adaptable team player capable of thriving in a fast-paced, diverse cultural environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior internship or professional experience in physical design, circuit design, or related semiconductor roles.
• Experience in optimizing placement strategies, congestion removal, and post-placement timing closure.
• Familiarity with clock tree synthesis techniques to mitigate latency and skew.
• Knowledge of Power Integrity (PI) and Signal Integrity (SI) closure techniques.
• Experience with multi-voltage design concepts and low-power techniques.
• Familiarity with other EDA tools such as Ansys Redhawk or Synopsys Fusion Compiler.
• DFT knowledge is a plus.

Company Description

As a trusted technology and capacity provider, TSMC is driven by the desire to be:

1. The world's leading dedicated semiconductor foundry
2. The technology leader with a strong reputation for manufacturing excellence
3. Advancing semiconductor manufacturing innovations to enable the future of technology

TSMC pioneered the pure-play foundry business model when it was founded in 1987 and has been the world's leading dedicated semiconductor foundry ever since. The Company supports a thriving ecosystem of global customers and partners with the industry's leading process technologies and a portfolio of design enablement solutions to unleash innovation for the global semiconductor industry. With global operations spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, TSMC serves as a committed corporate citizen around the world.

In North America, TSMC has a strong sales and service organization that works with customers by helping them achieve silicon success with cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing excellence. The Company has continued to accelerate its R&D investment and staffing in recent years and is expanding its manufacturing footprint to support customer innovation with 3D IC technologies and optimal manufacturing capacity.

For positions requiring access to technical data subject to export control regulations, including Export Administration Regulations, TSMC North America may have to obtain export licensing approval from the U.S. Government for certain individuals.  All employment is contingent upon TSMC North America obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by the U.S. Government.

Diversity statement

TSMC Technology, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce and provides Equal Employment Opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

TSMC is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us at g_accommodations@tsmc.com. TSMC confirms to all applicants its commitment to meet TSMC's obligations under applicable employment law. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Pay Transparency / Benefits statement

At TSMC, your base pay is only part of your overall total compensation package. At the time of this posting, this role typically pays a base salary between $110,000 and $160,000 per year. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hires. Actual pay may be more or less than the posted range. Factors that influence pay include the individual's skills, qualifications, education, experience and the position level and location.  TSMC's total compensation package consists of market competitive pay, allowances, bonuses, and comprehensive benefits. We also offer extensive development opportunities and programs.