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Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Baltimore, MD (NOW HIRING)

The ideal candidate has 6 to 10 years of IR seeker systems engineering experience including IR seeker physical design, signal processing design and analyses, and seeker testing, and an active TS ...

IR Seeker Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

The ideal candidate has 6 to 10 years of IR seeker systems engineering experience including IR seeker physical design, signal processing design and analyses, and seeker testing, and an active TS ...

Engineer II - Sewer Design

Towson, MD · On-site

$63.52K - $72.14K/yr

Performs various work in the design of engineering projects, including drafting and reviewing plans ... limited physical activities including travel to various work sites. Employment Background ...

IR Seeker Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$90K - $150K/yr

The ideal candidate has 6 to 10 years of IR seeker systems engineering experience including IR seeker physical design, signal processing design and analyses, and seeker testing, and an active TS ...

The ideal candidate has RF seeker systems engineering experience including RF seeker physical design, signal processing design and analyses, seeker testing, and an active TS clearance. The position ...

Senior RF Seeker Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$150K - $170K/yr

The ideal candidate has RF seeker systems engineering experience including RF seeker physical design, signal processing design and analyses, seeker testing, and an active TS clearance. The position ...

Senior RF Seeker Engineer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$150K - $170K/yr

The ideal candidate has RF seeker systems engineering experience including RF seeker physical design, signal processing design and analyses, seeker testing, and an active TS clearance. The position ...

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Physical Design Engineer information

See Baltimore, MD salary details

$94.4K

$140.6K

How much do physical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for physical design engineer in Baltimore, MD is $138,522.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,100.00 and $139,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Physical Design Engineer job?

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 in the Physical Design Engineer position, and why are they important?

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 Baltimore, MD? The most popular types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in Baltimore, MD are:
What are popular job titles related to Physical Design Engineer jobs in Baltimore, MD? For Physical Design Engineer jobs in Baltimore, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Physical Design Engineer jobs in Baltimore, MD look for? The top searched job categories for Physical Design Engineer jobs in Baltimore, MD are:
RF Design Engineer

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

Description

Are you passionate about providing real, immediate impact to the country's toughest national security problems?

Do you love building and testing prototype radio frequency (RF) waveforms and systems?


If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!

We are seeking an RF engineer to develop, analyze, and optimize RF electrical aspects of sensor systems. As a member of the Sensor Systems Engineering group, you collaborate with teams of passionate engineers and scientists who build, analyze, and test systems for the Air and Missile Defense Sector. Our team strives to deliver robust solutions to address difficult problems facing the U.S. Department of Defense and the warfighter. We strive to foster an environment of collaboration and innovation!

As an RF Design Engineer, you will...

  • Build innovative hardware solutions such as antennas, custom PCBs, RF circuits and systems.
  • Apply electrical and RF engineering tools to develop and predict hardware performance.
  • Define and complete hardware test activities to assess hardware system performance.
  • Document and present work to sponsors, technical teams, and APL management.
  • Stay up-to-date on the latest RF electronics, embedded systems, and embedded software innovations.
  • Continually grow your skills in engineering, communication, and leadership.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

  • Possess a B.S. in electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, or an equivalent technical domain.
  • Have demonstrated ability with ECAD design tools such as Altium, Ki-CAD, Eagle, and/or Mentor Graphics.
  • Have familiarity using embedded software tools/ languages (i.e. Arduino, Platform.io, CMake, C, C++).
  • Have experience with MATLAB or similar computational tools.
  • Are comfortable using lab test equipment such as oscilloscopes, power supplies, signal generators, etc.
  • Have familiarity with electromagnetic and RF concepts such as transmission line theory, Maxwell's equations, power budgets.
  • Possess strong interpersonal communication skills.
  • Are able to acquire an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a TS/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

  • Have experience working with Navy, Army, Marine, or Air Force radar or communications systems.
  • Have experience developing RF systems or subsystems (i.e. amplifier stages, filtering, combining networks, etc.)
  • Have experience designing, manufacturing, populating, and testing custom PCBs.
  • Have familiarity writing VHDL and/or working with FPGAs.
  • Have a strong understanding of full-wave electromagnetic solvers.
  • Carry experience operating within a rapid prototyping environment.

#LI-KW1


About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities athttp://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contactAccommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.


Minimum Rate
$85,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$165,000 Annually