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Physical Design Engineer Internship Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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.

Physical Design Engineer

Frisco, TX · On-site

$127K - $131K/yr

This is a full time position with our company doing Physical Design Engineering. What you'll do * Lead end to end Physical Design from floorplan to GDS * Own full PnR flow: placement, CTS, routing ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$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 ...

Physical Design Engineer (7452)

San Jose, CA

$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 ...

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 ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/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 ...

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 ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/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 ...

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Hudson River Trading (HRT) is seeking a Physical Design Engineer with a broad, versatile skillset to join our growing Hardware team. In this role, you will help deliver performance-critical ASICs and ...

About the Role We are seeking a highly skilled Physical Design Engineer with deep expertise in physical design and methodology. This individual contributor role sits within our physical design team ...

Physical Design Engineer

Westford, MA · On-site

$141K - $145K/yr

NVIDIA is looking for best-in-class Senior Physical Design Engineers to join our outstanding Networking Silicon engineering team, developing the industry's best high speed communication devices ...

Physical Design Engineer

Westford, MA · On-site

$141K - $145K/yr

NVIDIA is looking for best-in-class Senior Physical Design Engineers to join our outstanding Networking Silicon engineering team, developing the industry's best high speed communication devices ...

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$144K - $148K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location : San Diego,CA Type : Full Time Job Overview: To do Floor planning, P&R, timing closure SI prevention/fixing, power planning, CTS, PV and I/R drop for Block as well ...

Physical Design Engineer

Hillsboro, OR

$148K - $152K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Job Location: Hillsboro, OR Job Type: Fulltime In this position, you will be developing and supporting mixed signal and custom digital hard IPs. The job will entail: files ...

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Physical Design Engineer Internship information

See salary details

$95K

$141.5K

How much do physical design engineer internship jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for physical design engineer internship in the United States is $139,408.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,000.00 and $140,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 Physical Design Engineer internships?

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

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 are some typical projects or tasks a Physical Design Engineer intern can expect to work on during their internship?

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.
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Physical Design Engineer

The PJF Group

Bodega Bay, CA

$180K - $230K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 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