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Freelance Physical Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Physical Design Engineer

Boston, MA · 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 ...

$140K - $156K/yr

The Physical Design Engineer willbe an integral part of the physical design team with all aspects of physical design implementation and verification tasks for Ambarella's cutting edgelow powerAISoC ...

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 ...

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.","responsibilities":"Generate ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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.","responsibilities":"Your ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$133 - $193/hr

Physical Design Engineer** to join our Silicon Engineering and Physical Design organization. In this role, you will be responsible for implementing advanced custom IP and SoC designs from RTL through ...

Physical Design Engineer

Bristol, VA · On-site

$80 - $120/hr

As a Physical Design Engineer, you will support the implementation of complex IC physical designs, from synthesis to sign‑off. You will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including logic ...

Physical Design Engineer Etched is looking for exceptional PD engineers to join our team. The candidate will be responsible for working with 3rd party design services to implement and verify physical ...

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 ...

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.","responsibilities":"Your ...

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.","responsibilities":"Your ...

Physical Design Engineer City: Mountain View State/Province: California Posting Start Date: 8/6/26 Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading technology services and consulting ...

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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.","responsibilities":"Generate ...

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Freelance Physical Design Engineer information

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$14

$47

$132

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

As of Aug 16, 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 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.
More about Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs

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Cities with the most Freelance Physical Design Engineer job openings:

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Infographic showing various Freelance Physical Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, and 26% Contract. Highlights an 95% In-person, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,230 per year, or $47.7 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer

Conductor

Boston, MA • On-site

$130 - $170/hr

Other

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

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-house and outsource, and then managing the outsourced process and integrating it with the in-house flow and effort.

Ideal Candidates:

Ideal candidates will have:

  • Hands-on experience with the physical design process for at least one block in multiple advanced node tapeouts
  • Ability to understand what PPA limiters are from RTL and coordinate with microarchitects to change the RTL to improve/fix them
  • Experience both with in-house and outsourced physical design flows
Nice to Have:
  • Experience with physical design process for multi-die/multi-chiplet/MCM designs
  • Experience with physical design process for reticle-max or near reticle max designs
  • Experience with very high power density chips
  • Experience with the physical design process for AI chips
  • Experience with the physical design process of analog and mixed signal blocks and macros
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