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Physical Design Engineer Intern Jobs in DeKalb, IL

Jr. ASIC Design Engineer

Batavia, IL · On-site

$70K - $93K/yr

We are looking for a Junior ASIC Design Engineer to lead and contribute to research activities and ... Executing physical and functional circuit and system verification. * Preparing documentation and ...

Contribute to the design, development and physical validation of products * Support the creation ... Familiarity with basic engineering and manufacturing principles * Proficient in basic computer ...

Mechanical Design Project Engineer

Elgin, IL · On-site

$75K - $101K/yr

Contribute to the design, development and physical validation of products * Support the creation ... Familiarity with basic engineering and manufacturing principles * Proficient in basic computer ...

Contribute to the design, development and physical validation of products * Support the creation ... Familiarity with basic engineering and manufacturing principles * Proficient in basic computer ...

The Web Developer intern assists, develops, maintains, upgrades and supports new and existing Internet based sites, projects and assets. Web Developer Intern Department: Rockford Location: Rockford ...

The Web Developer intern assists, develops, maintains, upgrades and supports new and existing Internet based sites, projects and assets. Web Developer Intern Department: Rockford Location: Rockford ...

As a Software Engineering Intern at Danaher, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing ... Participating on an Agile Scrum team, collaborating across design, development, and testing

As a Software Engineering Intern at Danaher, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing ... Participating on an Agile Scrum team, collaborating across design, development, and testing

As a Software Engineering Intern at Danaher, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing ... Participating on an Agile Scrum team, collaborating across design, development, and testing

As a Software Engineering Intern at Danaher, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing ... Participating on an Agile Scrum team, collaborating across design, development, and testing

As a Software Engineering Intern at Danaher, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing ... Participating on an Agile Scrum team, collaborating across design, development, and testing

As a Software Engineering Intern at Danaher, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing ... Participating on an Agile Scrum team, collaborating across design, development, and testing

As a Software Engineering Intern at Danaher, you'll work alongside experienced engineers developing ... Participating on an Agile Scrum team, collaborating across design, development, and testing

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Physical Design Engineer Intern information

See DeKalb, IL salary details

$10

$18

$29

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

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for physical design engineer intern in DeKalb, IL is $18.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.82 and $20.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a physical design engineer intern?

To thrive as a Physical Design Engineer Intern, you generally need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital circuit design, and semiconductor fundamentals, often supported by ongoing university studies in a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard EDA tools such as Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics, as well as scripting languages like TCL or Python, is highly valuable. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills for excelling in this role. These skills and qualifications are important because they ensure accurate chip layouts, efficient workflows, and successful collaboration within complex engineering teams.

What types of projects and tasks can a physical design engineer intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a Physical Design Engineer Intern, you will typically be involved in supporting the design and verification of integrated circuits at the physical level. Common tasks include assisting with floorplanning, placement and routing, timing analysis, and running design rule checks using industry-standard EDA tools. You may also participate in team meetings, collaborate with senior engineers, and help resolve issues related to power, performance, and area optimization. These hands-on experiences are designed to help you build practical skills and gain a deeper understanding of the physical design flow in VLSI chip development.

What is a physical design engineer intern?

A physical design engineer intern is a student or entry-level professional gaining hands-on experience in the physical implementation of integrated circuits, including tasks like floorplanning, placement, routing, and timing analysis. They typically work with electronic design automation (EDA) tools and collaborate with engineering teams to optimize chip performance and manufacturability.

What does a physical design engineer intern do?

A Physical Design Engineer Intern assists in the process of transforming a circuit design (RTL) into a real, manufacturable layout for semiconductor chips. They work on tasks such as floorplanning, placement, routing, timing analysis, and verifying that the chip design meets all physical and electrical requirements. Interns typically use electronic design automation (EDA) tools to perform these tasks and collaborate with experienced engineers. Their work is crucial in ensuring that chips are both functional and manufacturable at scale.

What is the difference between Physical Design Engineer Intern vs Digital Design Engineer Intern?

AspectPhysical Design Engineer InternDigital Design Engineer Intern
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or holding a degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer EngineeringTypically pursuing or holding a degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
Work EnvironmentDesigning and implementing physical chip layouts, working with EDA toolsDesigning digital logic circuits, working on HDL coding and simulation
Industry UsageFoundries, semiconductor companies, integrated circuit design firmsSemiconductor companies, integrated circuit design firms, tech companies

Physical Design Engineer Interns focus on translating digital logic designs into physical layouts for chips, working closely with EDA tools. Digital Design Engineer Interns concentrate on creating and simulating digital logic circuits using hardware description languages. Both roles are essential in chip development but differ in their specific tasks and focus areas.

What job categories do people searching Physical Design Engineer Intern jobs in DeKalb, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Physical Design Engineer Intern jobs in DeKalb, IL are:
What cities near DeKalb, IL are hiring for Physical Design Engineer Intern jobs? Cities near DeKalb, IL with the most Physical Design Engineer Intern job openings:

Jr. ASIC Design Engineer

Fermilab

Batavia, IL • On-site

$70K - $93K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 18 days ago


Fermilab rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 9 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 120 rated laboratories


Job description

The expected hiring range for this position is:
$70,800.00-$93,200.00.
Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such the scope and responsibilities of the position, qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
About the Role:
We are looking for a Junior ASIC Design Engineer to lead and contribute to research activities and engineering work focused on developing custom instrumentation for extreme radiation and/or cryogenic environments.
What your day-to-day as a Junior ASIC Design Engineer at Fermilab will look like:
  • Performing a leading role in Analog and RF ASIC design projects, while being able to contribute individually to major design tasks.
  • Developing design specifications for ASICs based on theoretical analyses and in conjunction with application needs.
  • Designing circuit networks using schematic entry and layout tools with full custom or timing-driven layout tools in Cadence CAD/EDA or a similar environment.
  • Models circuit networks and system components in hardware-description languages (Verilog-A and Verilog/SystemVerilog).
  • Building test benches and carries out analog and/or RF circuit simulations.
  • Executing physical and functional circuit and system verification.
  • Preparing documentation and participates in test-board designs and laboratory testing.
  • Delivering presentations internally, at national and international workshops, and at the topical conferences.
  • Performing other duties as assigned by supervisor.
  • Abiding by and being responsible for performing all duties in accordance with all environmental, health and safety regulations and practices pertinent to this position.

Skills and Attributes for Success:
  • Bachelor's degree in an applicable Engineering discipline from an ABET accredited institution.

Applicable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:
  • Readiness for working on challenging projects that may have tight schedules.
  • Capability of working as part of a design team in a research and development environment
  • Experience with industry-standard front-end and back-end CAD/EDA design tools, such as Cadence, Synopsys and Mentor for the IC design.
  • Familiarity with principles of instrumentation for radiation detection with solid state or gaseous detectors and usages in extreme environments, like cryogenic or radiation harsh conditions
  • Strong computer skills and competence in performing analytical engineering calculations, in drawing schematics and in documentation.

Work Arrangement:
Please note that the described work arrangement is subject to change based on business needs and is not guaranteed to be final.
  • Hybrid: is a work arrangement in which an employee as part of an ongoing regular schedule, works at an alternative worksite in the United States (e.g., an employee's residence) on some days and at the primary worksite on other days. Requires an approved hybrid work request for one or more days a week worked remotely within the United States on a routine basis.

Benefits/Perks:
Fermilab offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including:
Medical, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Paid time off
  • Life insurance
  • Short and Long-term disability insurance
  • Retirement benefits
  • Onsite day care

Why Fermilab:
Fermilab is America's premier laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. We support discovery science experiments in Illinois and locations around the world, including deep underground mines in South Dakota and Canada, mountaintops in Arizona and Chile, CERN in Europe and the South Pole.
Pre-Employment Screening:
Drug-Free Workplace & Pre-Employment Screening
Fermilab is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive and drug-free environment. An offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening.
HSPD-12
In accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) new employees are required to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete and pass a federal background check investigation. This investigation includes a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture. This includes marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws. Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.
Foreign Government Sponsored Activities
Fermilab employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. Such individuals will be asked to disclose any participation for review by Fermilab's Office of General Counsel.
REAL-ID Requirement for access to Fermilab Campus
Fermilab requires all members of the public to produce a REAL-ID, or equivalent, to access the Fermilab Campus for interviews or career events. A list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here: https://get-connected.fnal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REALID-Documents.pdf. If a candidate is selected for an interview but does not possess any of the equivalent documents, we may schedule a virtual interview.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Fermilab is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.

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