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Freelance Physical Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Baya Systems

Physical Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location: Santa Clara, CA About the role: We are seeking a seasoned Physical Design Engineer with a strong background in all aspects of Physical Design and Implementation ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$160K - $164K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$167K - $172K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Beaverton, OR

$141K - $145K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

Alameda, CA · Hybrid

$157K - $162K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

Hayward, CA · Hybrid

$155K - $160K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$167K - $172K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · Hybrid

$161K - $166K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

San Mateo, CA · Hybrid

$154K - $159K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

Santa Rosa, CA · Hybrid

$148K - $153K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

Mundelein, IL · Hybrid

$138K - $142K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$167K - $172K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$141K - $145K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · Hybrid

$159K - $164K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$167K - $172K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

$160K - $164K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · Hybrid

$158K - $163K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

Futran Solutions

Physical Design Engineer

Fremont, CA · Hybrid

$148K - $153K/yr

Physical Design Engineer (PD/PnR) Location: Bay Area / Austin (Hybrid Job Summary Seeking a Physical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in block-level and top-level Place & Route using ...

New

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All JobsFreelance Physical Design Engineer Jobs

Freelance Physical Design Engineer information

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How much do freelance physical design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance physical design engineer in the United States is $47.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.28 and $61.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Physical Design Engineer vs Full-Time Physical Design Engineer?

AspectFreelance Physical Design EngineerFull-Time Physical Design Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a relevant degree and industry experience; certifications are optionalRequires a degree and often certifications or ongoing training
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based, remote or on-siteCompany office or dedicated team environment
Employer & Industry UsageHired by multiple clients across various companies; flexible engagementsEmployed by a single company; stable employment
Work ScopeSpecific projects, often short-termOngoing responsibilities within a team or department

The main difference between a Freelance Physical Design Engineer and a Full-Time Physical Design Engineer lies in employment type, work environment, and project scope. Freelancers work independently on short-term projects for multiple clients, offering flexibility. Full-time engineers are employed by a single company, focusing on continuous, long-term responsibilities within a team.

What are Freelance Physical Design Engineers?

Freelance Physical Design Engineers are specialized professionals who work independently, often on a contract basis, to design and implement the physical layout of integrated circuits (ICs) and chips. They are responsible for taking a digital circuit design and transforming it into a manufacturable physical layout, which includes tasks such as floorplanning, placement, routing, timing analysis, and verification. These engineers typically use electronic design automation (EDA) tools and collaborate remotely with semiconductor companies, startups, or design teams. Freelance Physical Design Engineers offer flexibility and specialized expertise for projects without requiring long-term employment commitments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Freelance Physical Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Physical Design Engineer, you need expertise in ASIC/FPGA physical design, knowledge of VLSI concepts, and a degree in electrical or electronics engineering. Familiarity with EDA tools such as Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics, and experience with scripting languages like TCL or Python are typically required. Strong problem-solving, communication, and time management skills help freelancers efficiently collaborate with clients and meet project deadlines. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering high-quality chip designs and succeeding in a competitive, project-based environment.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance physical design engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Freelance physical design engineers often encounter challenges such as limited access to advanced EDA tools, variable project scopes, and the need to quickly adapt to different clients' design methodologies. To address these, it’s important to invest in personal tool licenses or partner with clients who provide access, maintain a strong network to secure consistent projects, and stay updated on industry trends and technologies. Effective communication and documentation also help ensure alignment with client expectations and avoid misunderstandings during the project lifecycle.
More about Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Freelance 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 Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs are:
Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Physical Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 88% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,230 per year, or $47.7 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer

Baya Systems

Santa Clara, CA • On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Other

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Physical Design Engineer
 
Location: Santa Clara, CA
 
About the role: We are seeking a seasoned Physical Design Engineer with a strong background in all aspects of Physical Design and Implementation flows. The ideal candidate will play a key role in shaping our technology portfolio, bringing expertise and creativity to our solutions
 
Responsibilities:
 
Own RTL to GDS physical implementation flows for synthesis, floor-planning, place and route, clock tree synthesis, timing & power closure, EM/IR, PDV and final PD sign off
Own physical design & implementation of high-performance designs from block level to system level components
Deep collaboration with Micro-architects to explore performance, power and area trade-offs for high performance and low power designs
Physical implementation feasibility studies and design recommendations for best PPA
Develop methodologies and recipes for various stages of physical implementation
Perform various physical design validation (PDV) flows for Timing, Power, EM/IR, etc. to ensure physical design quality
Perform design rule checking (DRC), (LVS) checks, and other physical verification tasks
Qualifications:
 
BS, MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or related degree
Experience in all aspects of physical design including synthesis, floor planning, place & route, timing & power closure, EM/IR, physical design validation, etc
Experience with synthesis, place & route, static timing analysis and PDV tools
Experience in implementing clock trees and power grids
Experience with scripting for physical design flow automation
Experience with Synopsys Design Compiler, Prime Time, ICC, Fusion Compiler etc.
Good knowledge of high-performance and low-power microarchitecture and logic design principles
Understanding of modern (sub 7nm) sub-micron technology nodes and device physics
Basic knowledge of System/SoC Architecture and System Verilog RTL coding
Strong communication and collaboration skills

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