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Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

New

As a Lead Physical Design Engineer, you will be responsible for the end-to-end implementation of complex IC physical designs, from synthesis to sign-off. In this role, you will take on leadership ...

New

Substation Physical Design Engineer

Richmond, VA · On-site

$97K - $124K/yr

Kimley-Horn's Richmond office is seeking a Substation Physical Design Engineer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. The successful candidate will support the design, and ...

Substation Physical Design Engineer

Richmond, VA · On-site

$97K - $124K/yr

Overview Kimley-Horn's Richmond office is seeking a Substation Physical Design Engineer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. The successful candidate will support the design ...

Substation Physical Design Engineer

Richmond, VA · On-site

$97K - $124K/yr

Overview Kimley-Horn's Richmond office is seeking a Substation Physical Design Engineer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. The successful candidate will support the design ...

Substation Physical Design Engineer

Richmond, VA · On-site

$97K - $124K/yr

Overview Kimley-Horn's Richmond office is seeking a Substation Physical Design Engineer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. The successful candidate will support the design ...

Design Engineer Would you like to be part of a family who loves to take on exciting challenges ... Hearing protection PPE only required with working in the plant PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This is an ...

Design Engineer Would you like to be part of a family who loves to take on exciting challenges ... Hearing protection PPE only required with working in the plant PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This is an ...

Design Engineer Would you like to be part of a family who loves to take on exciting challenges ... Hearing protection PPE only required with working in the plant PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This is an ...

Design Engineer

Winchester, VA · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

Design Engineer JOB DATA Department Code: 807X Account Code: 701000 Department Name: Engineering ... Hearing protection PPE only required with working in the plant PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This is an ...

You will develop complete engineering packages at progressive levels of detail (30%, 80%, 90%, and final design), incorporating physical security infrastructure including intrusion detection, CCTV ...

You will develop complete engineering packages at progressive levels of detail (30%, 80%, 90%, and final design), incorporating physical security infrastructure including intrusion detection, CCTV ...

Design Engineer Would you like to be part of a family who loves to take on exciting challenges ... Hearing protection PPE only required with working in the plant PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This is an ...

Support of substation and transmission line physical design consisting of layout, conduit ... Work under supervision of Project Engineer, Senior Engineer, or Project Manager in a professional ...

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Physical Design Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$94.2K

$140.3K

How much do physical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for physical design engineer in Virginia is $138,213.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,800.00 and $138,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a physical design engineer?

A Physical Design Engineer is responsible for transforming logical circuit designs into a physical layout that can be manufactured as an integrated circuit (IC). They focus on key aspects like floor planning, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), routing, and timing closure while ensuring power and performance optimization. They work with Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and collaborate with front-end designers to meet design specifications. The role requires proficiency in tools such as Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics and knowledge of processes like ASIC or SoC design.

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

To thrive as a Physical Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, experience with ASIC or SoC design methodologies, and a deep understanding of digital circuit fundamentals. Proficiency with EDA tools like Synopsys, Cadence, or Mentor Graphics, as well as familiarity with scripting languages and industry certifications, is highly valued. Attention to detail, effective teamwork, and strong problem-solving skills are essential soft skills for this role. These qualifications are crucial as they enable efficient chip design, ensure successful project delivery, and foster productive collaboration in complex engineering environments.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a physical design engineer?

As a Physical Design Engineer, your daily responsibilities typically include taking logical circuit designs and translating them into physical layouts, performing floorplanning, placement, and routing of blocks, and conducting timing closure and verification. You will use specialized EDA tools to ensure that designs meet performance, power, and area requirements, collaborating closely with design, verification, and manufacturing teams. The role also involves resolving design issues, optimizing chip layouts, and preparing design data for fabrication. Working in this position provides exposure to advanced technology nodes and the opportunity to contribute directly to the development of cutting-edge semiconductor products.

What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
Infographic showing various Physical Design Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $138,213 per year, or $66.4 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer

Fractile

Bristol, VA • On-site

$80 - $120/hr

Other

Posted 2 days ago

New


Job description

Fractile’s mission is to enable a new chapter in the AI revolution. We’re pioneering AI innovation where hardware and software join to create something extraordinary, unlocking the power of the world’s largest language models with speed increases of x100. Our team is rapidly expanding, and we're searching for visionary engineers, scientists, and thinkers who share our passion for pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible. If you're ready to join a dynamic group of innovators shaping AI's future, we want to hear from you!

We are seeking a Physical Design Engineer to contribute to our next‑generation chip designs. 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 design, verification, and process technology, to optimise performance, power, and area (PPA) while ensuring design integrity and manufacturability.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Support the physical implementation of ASIC/SoC designs, including floor planning, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), routing, and sign‑off.
  • Work on synthesis, timing analysis (STA), and optimisation to achieve strong PPA metrics.
  • Assist in power planning and analysis, addressing IR drop, electromigration, and related effects.
  • Ensure design rule check (DRC), layout vs. schematic (LVS), and other physical verification compliance.
  • Collaborate with DFT engineers to integrate design‑for‑test (DFT) structures into the physical implementation.
  • Develop flows in EDA tools such as Cadence Innovus, Synopsys Fusion Compiler, Mentor Graphics Calibre, and others.
  • Work closely with RTL and architecture teams to support design feasibility, constraints, and physical‑aware RTL design.
  • Work with advanced AI tools and models to improve productivity, analysis, and design quality.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
  • 0–5 years of experience in physical design for advanced technology nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm, or below), including internships.
  • Familiarity with EDA tools for place & route, STA, and sign‑off.
  • Basic understanding of CMOS technology, semiconductor physics, and process limitations.
  • Exposure to timing closure, signal integrity, IR drop analysis, and formal verification.
  • Proficiency in scripting languages like TCL, Perl, or Python for automation is a plus.
  • Excellent problem‑solving skills, communication, and teamwork in a collaborative design environment.
  • Interest in working with advanced AI tools and models as part of the design workflow.
  • Experience or coursework in high‑performance computing (HPC), AI accelerators, or networking chips is a plus.
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