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Entry Level Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX

As a Qualcomm ASIC Engineer, you will define, model, design (digital and/or analog), optimize, verify, validate, implement, and document IP (block/SoC) development for a variety of high performance ...

You will collaborate with a variety of fields including Architecture, RTL, Synthesis, Clocking, DFT, Physical design and Post silicon engineering to ensure the best design practices are followed for ...

Physical Design Engineer- senior

Austin, TX · On-site

$99K - $135K/yr

As a Qualcomm ASIC Engineer, you will define, model, design (digital and/or analog), optimize, verify, validate, implement, and document IP (block/SoC) development for a variety of high performance ...

Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

We are looking for passionate engineers to join our team. In this role, you will be impacting a ... Description - Participating and engaging with cross functional teams to tackle key physical design ...

Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

We are looking for passionate engineers to join our team. In this role, you will be impacting a ... Description - Participating and engaging with cross functional teams to tackle key physical design ...

Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

We are looking for passionate engineers to join our team. In this role, you will be impacting a ... Description - Participating and engaging with cross functional teams to tackle key physical design ...

Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

We are looking for passionate engineers to join our team. In this role, you will be impacting a ... Description - Participating and engaging with cross functional teams to tackle key physical design ...

Showing results 21-40

Entry Level Physical Design Engineer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$29.7K

$68.8K

$117K

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

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level physical design engineer in Austin, TX is $68,752.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,000.00 and $77,800.00 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.

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 cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs? Cities near Austin, TX with the most Entry Level Physical Design Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Physical Design Engineer job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Summer. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $68,752 per year, or $33.1 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer- senior

Qualcomm

Austin, TX • On-site

$115K - $173K/yr

Other

Re-posted 8 days ago


Qualcomm rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

51st of 242 rated software companies


Job description


Company:Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Job Area:Engineering Group, Engineering Group > ASICS Engineering

General Summary:

As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives communication and data processing transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all.  As a Qualcomm ASIC Engineer, you will define, model, design (digital and/or analog), optimize, verify, validate, implement, and document IP (block/SoC) development for a variety of high performance, high quality, low power world class products. Qualcomm Engineers collaborate with cross-functional groups to determine product execution path.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 1+ year of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

•    Master's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science.

•    3+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
•    2+ years of experience with architecture and design tools.
•    2+ years of experience with scripting tools and programming languages.

•    2+ years of experience with design verification methods.

 

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

•    Applies ASIC knowledge and experience to define, model, design (digital and/or analog), optimize, verify, validate, implement, and document IP (block/SoC) development for a variety of high performance, high quality, low power products.

•    Creates architectures, circuit specifications, logic designs, and/or system simulations based on system-level requirements.

•    Collaborates across teams (e.g., software architecture, hardware architecture) to develop and execute an implementation strategy that meets system requirements and customer needs.

•    Evaluates all aspects of process flow from high-level design to synthesis, place and route, timing and power use, and verification or similarly for custom circuit design/layout flow.

•    Utilizes tools/applications (e.g., RTL to GDS Flow, Virtuoso) to execute and enable architecture and design of an individual block/SoC or IC Package.

•    Writes detailed technical documentation for EDA/IP/ASIC projects.

Level of Responsibility:

•    Works independently with minimal supervision.

•    Decision-making may affect work beyond immediate work group.

•    Requires verbal and written communication skills to convey information. May require basic negotiation, influence, tact, etc.  

•    Has a moderate amount of influence over key organizational decisions (e.g., is consulted by senior leadership to make key decisions).

•    Tasks require multiple steps which can be performed in various orders; some planning, problem-solving, and prioritization must occur to complete the tasks effectively.

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.

Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:

$115,600.00 - $173,400.00

The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm.  We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus).  In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.

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