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Physical Design Engineer Internship Jobs in California

The PJF Group

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

$161K - $166K/yr

We're looking for a hands-on Physical Design Engineer to support complex SoC projects for our client who designs and delivers advanced System-on-Chip solutions across multiple emerging technologies.

Altera

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$118K - $169K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Physical Design Engineer to join our Silicon Design Automation & Implementation organization. In this role, you will contribute to the implementation of custom IP and ...

Altera Corporation

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$133K - $192K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Physical Design Engineer to join our Silicon Engineering and Physical Design organization. In this role, you will be responsible for implementing advanced custom IP ...

The PJF Group

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

$161K - $166K/yr

We're looking for a hands-on Physical Design Engineer to support complex SoC projects for our client who designs and delivers advanced System-on-Chip solutions across multiple emerging technologies.

CivicMinds, Inc.

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$145K - $150K/yr

Physical design engineers are ideally creative, motivated, energetic, pleasant to work with, and put the needs of the team first. These candidates will be responsible for designs and test structures ...

Mirafra Technology

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$144K - $148K/yr

Job Overview: The Graphics team is looking for Experienced Physical Design Engineers to work on Adreno Graphics cores in the area of Physical Implementation. Responsibilities: The Physical ...

TSMC

Physical Design Engineer (7452)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$155K - $160K/yr

This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer with a strong foundation in VLSI design, a passion ... Prior internship or professional experience in physical design, circuit design, or related ...

TSMC

Physical Design Engineer (7452)

San Jose, CA · On-site

$155K - $160K/yr

This is an exciting opportunity for an engineer with a strong foundation in VLSI design, a passion ... Prior internship or professional experience in physical design, circuit design, or related ...

Xforia, Inc.

Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$162K - $166K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location: Sunnyvale, CA Note: Highlighted skills are must to have. JD: • 10+ years of hands-on experience for block level Implementation activities(Netlist to GDS II and ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

Job Summary Etched is looking for exceptional Physical Design engineers to join our team. In this role, you will own block-level implementation and verification, drive timing closure and PPA ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Job Summary Etched is looking for exceptional Physical Design engineers to join our team. In this role, you will own block-level implementation and verification, drive timing closure and PPA ...

The Consensus

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Job Summary Etched is looking for exceptional Physical Design engineers to join our team. In this role, you will own block-level implementation and verification, drive timing closure and PPA ...

Broadcom

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Broadcom is searching for a Physical IC Design Engineer to join the Data Center Solutions Group at our main campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This position involves working with the latest ...

Broadcom

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA

$159K - $164K/yr

Broadcom is searching for a Physical IC Design Engineer to join the Data Center Solutions Group at our main campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This position involves working with the latest ...

Broadcom

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Broadcom is searching for a Physical IC Design Engineer to join the Data Center Solutions Group at our main campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado.This position involves working with the latest ...

Etched.ai, Inc.

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Job Summary Etched is looking for exceptional Physical Design engineers to join our team. In this role, you will own block-level implementation and verification, drive timing closure and PPA ...

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Physical Design Engineer Internship information

What is a physical design engineer internship?

Physical Design Engineer internships are opportunities for students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in the field of semiconductor design, focusing on the physical implementation of integrated circuits (ICs). Interns typically work alongside experienced engineers to learn about tasks such as floorplanning, placement, routing, timing analysis, and verification using industry-standard Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. These internships provide exposure to the complete chip design flow, allowing interns to apply their knowledge of digital design and learn about key challenges in transforming logical circuit designs into manufacturable silicon. The experience is highly valuable for those seeking a career in VLSI or hardware engineering.

What do physical design engineer interns do?

As a Physical Design Engineer intern, you’ll typically assist with tasks such as floorplanning, placement, clock tree synthesis, and routing for integrated circuit (IC) designs. You may also help analyze timing, power, and area, supporting senior engineers in optimizing chip layouts. Interns often use industry-standard EDA tools and collaborate closely with teams in RTL design and verification. This hands-on experience allows you to develop your technical skills while gaining insight into the collaborative workflow of semiconductor design.

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

To thrive as a Physical Design Engineer Intern, you generally need a solid understanding of digital circuit design, VLSI concepts, and coursework in electrical or computer engineering. Familiarity with EDA tools like Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics, along with knowledge of scripting languages such as TCL or Python, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help interns excel in team environments and complex problem-solving. These skills and qualifications are vital for ensuring accurate, efficient chip design and successful integration within engineering teams.

What is the difference between Physical Design Engineer Internship vs Digital IC Design Engineer?

AspectPhysical Design Engineer InternshipDigital IC Design Engineer
Required CredentialsTypically pursuing or recent graduate in Electrical Engineering or Computer EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
Work EnvironmentInternship setting within semiconductor or electronics companies, hands-on design tasksFull-time professional role, involved in digital circuit design and verification
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by semiconductor companies, chip design firms, and tech companies for trainingFull-time employment in similar companies, focusing on digital IC development

The Physical Design Engineer Internship provides hands-on experience in chip layout and physical implementation, often for students or recent grads. In contrast, the Digital IC Design Engineer role involves full-time digital circuit design and verification. Both roles are essential in semiconductor development, but internships serve as entry points for aspiring engineers to gain industry exposure.

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 Physical Design Engineer Internship jobs in California?

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

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

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

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

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

Physical Design Engineer Internship jobs near you
Infographic showing various Physical Design Engineer Internship job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Internship, 65% Full Time, and 29% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Physical Design Engineer

The PJF Group

Bodega Bay, CA • On-site

$161K - $166K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

We're looking for a hands-on Physical Design Engineer to support complex SoC projects for our client who designs and delivers advanced System-on-Chip solutions across multiple emerging technologies. They provide high-performance custom solutions for cutting-edge applications. You'll collaborate with customers, frontend, and integration teams to ensure successful tape-outs, contributing across all phases of physical design. 

Profile of preferred candidate includes 10 + years of hands-on experience, custom ASIC, strong communication skills, experience with multiple tape outs from inception, small company experience. Hands on physical design and synthesis experience, owning development from end to end is required. 

Local candidates are preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Pre-layout STA for feasibility and timing constraint validation
  • Chip/block-level floor planning and pin assignment
  • Clock spec review and clock tree synthesis
  • Placement, routing, and timing optimization
  • Sign-off tasks: RC extraction, STA, IR-drop analysis, and physical verification
  • Customer meetings and technical presentations

 




Why is This a Great Opportunity

Leading custom ASIC and SoC development company with a pipeline of new technology projects for top companies. Employees are real contributors, often working independently or as part of a small team.  Will work of full project lifecycle from inception to tapeout.

Qualifications:

  • BSEE with 5+ years experience; MSEE preferred
  • Strong experience in ASIC physical design and SoC development (28nm/16nm)
  • Proficient in ICC2/Innovus, scripting (Perl/Tcl/Python)
  • Knowledge of frontend design and hierarchical layouts
  • Familiar with power/IR-drop tools (PrimePower/Redhawk) and STA (PrimeTime)
  • Skilled in PV tools and debugging PV errors
  • Excellent communication and problem-solving skills