ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Freelance Physical Design Engineer Jobs in California

search-tactics

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$70 - $80/hr

Physical Design Engineer Location: San Jose, CA Hybrid Duration: 12 Months VISA: H-1, GC, USC is okay C2C Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Physical Design Engineer to support the ...

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

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 ...

Search Tactics LLC

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Position: Physical Design Engineer Location: San Jose, CA Hybrid Duration: 12 Months VISA: H-1, USC Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Physical Design Engineer to support the ...

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 Inc.

Physical Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150.40 - $277.60/hr

Description As a Physical Design Engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHYs from RTL to final GDSII delivery. Your responsibilities include but are not ...

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

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

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

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 ...

Conductor

Physical Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130 - $170/hr

We're looking for physical design engineers to help manage and execute the physical design process for the various dies that comprise our A-0 and A-1 systems. This will involve deciding what to do in ...

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 ...

iFlow Inc

Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location:Sunnyvale, CA OR Austin,TX Duration: Long term experience: 5-18 years only ( No 18+ years profile) Job Overview: We are looking for a highly skilled Physical Design ...

Altera Corporation

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$118K - $169K/yr

About the Role As a Physical Design Engineer at Altera, you will contribute to the physical implementation of FPGA/SoC designs, working with experienced engineers across the backend design flow from ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$150K - $277K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPhysical Design Engineer JobsFreelance Physical Design Engineer JobsFreelance Physical Design Engineer Jobs in California

Freelance Physical Design Engineer information

What is a freelance physical design engineer?

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?

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.

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 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 Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs in California?

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

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

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

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

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

Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Physical Design Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Contract. Highlights an 96% In-person, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Physical Design Engineer

search-tactics

San Jose, CA • On-site

$70 - $80/hr

Contractor

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

Position: Physical Design Engineer
Location: San Jose, CA Hybrid

Duration: 12 Months

VISA: H-1, GC, USC is okay C2C

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Physical Design Engineer to support the implementation of high-performance semiconductor designs targeting advanced process technologies. This contract position will focus on synthesis, floorplanning, physical implementation, and performance optimization for complex, timing-sensitive designs while working closely with cross-functional engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

Execute RTL synthesis for complex ASIC and SoC designs using Cadence Genus.

Optimize designs for power, performance, and area (PPA) throughout the synthesis and physical design flow.

Develop and improve floorplans using Cadence Innovus, ensuring efficient utilization and routing.

Collaborate with RTL, architecture, and design teams to provide feedback on timing, constraints, and implementation strategies.

Partner with physical implementation and place-and-route teams to achieve timing closure and design quality goals.

Analyze timing challenges, identify critical paths, and recommend design improvements to improve convergence.

Support physical implementation activities from synthesis through implementation while maintaining design quality and schedule objectives.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.

5+ years of experience in ASIC or SoC Physical Design.

Hands-on expertise with Cadence Genus for synthesis and Cadence Innovus for floorplanning and implementation.

Experience working on large, high-performance semiconductor designs with demanding timing requirements.

Strong knowledge of synthesis, timing analysis, physical implementation, and PPA optimization.

Experience with advanced semiconductor process technologies such as 5nm, 3nm, or newer.

Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with RTL, architecture, physical design, and implementation teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting complex SoC, AI, HPC, or accelerator designs.

Strong understanding of timing closure methodologies and synthesis-to-implementation correlation.

Familiarity with advanced implementation flows, design constraints, and physical optimization techniques.

Proven ability to collaborate with globally distributed engineering teams to deliver successful silicon implementations.