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Entry Level Physical Design Engineer Jobs in California

Apple

SoC Physical Design Engineer, PnR

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Description In Physical Design, you will be at the center of design effort collaborating with architecture, CAD, timing and logic design teams, with a critical impact on delivering best in class ...

Apple

SoC Physical Design Engineer, PnR

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Description In Physical Design, you will be at the center of design effort collaborating with architecture, CAD, timing and logic design teams, with a critical impact on delivering best in class ...

Apple

SoC Physical Design Engineer, PnR

San Jose, CA

$129K - $194K/yr

Description In Physical Design, you will be at the center of design effort collaborating with architecture, CAD, timing and logic design teams, with a critical impact on delivering best in class ...

Apple

SoC Physical Design Engineer, PnR

San Jose, CA

$129K - $194K/yr

Description In Physical Design, you will be at the center of design effort collaborating with architecture, CAD, timing and logic design teams, with a critical impact on delivering best in class ...

Apple

IC Package Design Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$122K - $214K/yr

Description As a Package design engineer, you will lead advanced package architecture, drive next ... Proven experience in IC package physical design using Cadence Allegro or Mentor Xpedition platforms ...

Apple

IC Package Design Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$122K - $214K/yr

Description As a Package design engineer, you will lead advanced package architecture, drive next ... Proven experience in IC package physical design using Cadence Allegro or Mentor Xpedition platforms ...

Apple

IC Package Design Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$122K - $214K/yr

Description As a Package design engineer, you will lead advanced package architecture, drive next ... Proven experience in IC package physical design using Cadence Allegro or Mentor Xpedition platforms ...

Motorsport Hackers

Senior EDS Design Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

As an EDS Design Engineer, you will be at the forefront of defining the "nervous system" for our ... You will be responsible for the end-to-end vehicle-side electrical wire harness design and physical ...

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Entry Level Physical Design Engineer information

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 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 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 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs in California?

For Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Entry Level Physical Design Engineer job openings:

Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Physical Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Internship, 81% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 10% Contract, and 3% Summer. Highlights an 97% In-person, and 3% Remote job distribution.

Senior SOC Physical Design Engineer

Qualcomm

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

$146K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Posted 25 days ago

Qualcomm rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

48th of 247 rated software companies

Job description

Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > ASICS Engineering
General Summary:
This individual independently plans, performs the moderately-defined responsibility for the Physical Design Flow of high-speed DDR, graphics, physical verification flows, microarchitecture, SOC algorithm design and modeling, and methodology, focusing on target power utilization and optimization for system-on-chip (SoC) products and how these features impact power and performance. Responsibilities include: Floor Planning, Clock Tree Synthesis, Place and Route, PDN, Timing analysis and closure. Performs various physical verification checks (such as LVS, DRC, design-for-manufacturing & design-for-yield) at the chip and block levels. Provides schedules and support cross-functional engineering effort to drive to signoff closure for tapeout. Acts as a strong contributor at design reviews and project meetings.
Will accept a Master's Degree (or foreign academic equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science or related degree field.
Pay Range: $146,717.00 - $190,100.00/year
Applicants: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.

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About Qualcomm

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. You interact with products and technologies made possible by Qualcomm every day, including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and the technology behind the smart, connected factories that manufactured your latest purchase. Our powerful connectivity solutions keep you connected—even in remote areas. Qualcomm 5G and AI innovations are the power behind the connected intelligent edge. You’ll find our technologies behind and inside the innovations that deliver significant value across multiple industries and to billions of people every day.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1985

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