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Entry Level Physical Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Google - Physical Design Engineer, Sunnyvale, CA, USA Required qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$144 - $230/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a design engineer with physical layout skills to develop our next generation products with a focus on parallel interfaces. The job requires aspects of a successful layout engineer, an ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$144 - $230/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a design engineer with physical layout skills to develop our next generation products with a focus on parallel interfaces. The job requires aspects of a successful layout engineer, an ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA

$159K - $164K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a design engineer with physical layout skills to develop our next generation products with a focus on parallel interfaces. The job requires aspects of a successful layout engineer, an ...

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 ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We are seeking a design engineer with physical layout skills to develop our next generation products with a focus on parallel interfaces. The job requires aspects of a successful layout engineer, an ...

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 ...

Silicon Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

As a Physical Design Engineer, you will collaborate with RTL, Design for Testing (DFT), Floorplan, and full-chip Signoff teams. Additionally, you will solve technical problems with innovative micro ...

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 ...

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX

$134K - $138K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Chip physical design verification including formal equivalence, electrical rules, DRC/LVS, and Noise flow. * TCL Scripting. Preferred Qualifications: * Master's Degree in Computer Engineering or ...

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Chip physical design verification including formal equivalence, electrical rules, DRC/LVS, and Noise flow. * TCL Scripting. Preferred Qualifications: * Master's Degree in Computer Engineering or ...

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands‑on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

Showing results 21-40

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 Aug 16, 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.

More about Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs

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

Cities with the most Entry Level 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 Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Entry Level Physical Design Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Physical Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.

Silicon Physical Design Engineer

Google Inc.

Sunnyvale, CA • On-site

$116 - $166/hr

Other

Re-posted 5 days ago


Google rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 103 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

49th of 244 rated software companies


Job description

Google – Physical Design Engineer, Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Required qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 1 year of experience with physical design.
  • Experience with scripting languages such as Perl, Python, or Tcl.
  • Experience with Synopsys/Cadence PnR tools and backend flows (e.g., LEC, PI/SI, DRC/LVS, etc.).
  • Experience in static timing analysis (STA), including experience defining timing corners, margins, and derates.
Preferred qualifications
  • Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science, with an emphasis on computer architecture.
  • Experience with constraints, synthesis or clock tree synthesis (CTS).
  • Experience in block/subchip level place and route for SoC or with multiple-cycles of SoC in ASIC design.
  • Experience working with external partners on physical design (PD) closure.
  • Understanding of DFT including Scan, MBIST and LBIST.
  • Understanding of performance, power and area (PPA) trade-offs.
Responsibilities
  • Participate in the Physical Design (PD) of blocks for complex TPU chips.
  • Contribute to the design and closure of the subchip and individual blocks from RTL-to-GDS.
  • Collaborate with RTL/Design and PD teams to achieve the best PPA possible, including conducting feasibility studies for new microarchitectures as well as optimizing runs for best Quality of Results (QoR).
  • Create and maintain policies, processes, procedures, methods, tests, and documentation of silicon deliverables for the purpose of enhancing and promoting high efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.
  • Identify test requirements, select appropriate tools, methods, and approach, and carry out testing of Silicon systems, influence designs to enable and enhance testing, validation, and debugging.
Benefits
  • US: $116000 - $166000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits
English Proficiency

English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

EEO Statement

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy, Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal, Belonging at Google, and How we hire.

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