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Physical Design Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

PD Instore

Design Engineer

Minneapolis, MN

Summary The Design Engineer works within the framework of the Engineering Team as an expert in ... Experience with outside customer contact a plus Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

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Physical Design information

See Minnesota salary details

$93K

$138.6K

How much do physical design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for physical design in Minnesota is $136,538.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $133,200.00 and $137,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is physical design in the context of electronics and semiconductors?

Physical design refers to the process of transforming a circuit's logical representation into a geometrical layout that can be manufactured on a semiconductor chip. This involves placing and routing the various components, such as transistors and interconnections, while meeting performance, power, and area constraints. Physical design engineers use specialized software tools to optimize the layout and ensure it adheres to manufacturing rules. The process is a critical step in the development of integrated circuits (ICs) and directly impacts the chip’s speed, power consumption, and size.

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

To thrive as a Physical Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital circuit design, and VLSI concepts, usually supported by a relevant degree. Proficiency with EDA tools like Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics, as well as familiarity with scripting languages (e.g., TCL, Perl), is essential. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you address complex design challenges and collaborate within cross-functional teams. These competencies are crucial for optimizing chip layouts, ensuring manufacturability, and meeting performance and timing requirements in semiconductor development.

What are some common challenges faced by physical design engineers in meeting timing closure during chip development?

Physical Design engineers often encounter challenges in achieving timing closure due to factors such as increasing circuit complexity, tight power and area constraints, and process variations. Meeting timing goals requires careful floorplanning, placement, and routing, as well as close collaboration with logic design and verification teams to resolve critical path issues. Engineers must also frequently iterate designs and use advanced EDA tools to optimize performance while balancing trade-offs between speed, power, and manufacturability.

What is the difference between Physical Design vs Logic Design?

AspectPhysical DesignLogic Design
Primary FocusTranslating logical circuits into physical layoutsCreating logical circuit schematics and functional specifications
Skills RequiredEDA tools, layout constraints, circuit optimizationHardware description languages, digital logic, circuit theory
Work EnvironmentASIC/FPGA design teams, semiconductor companiesDesign teams, electronic design automation (EDA) environments
CertificationsTypically none specific, but EDA tool proficiency is valuedHardware description language certifications (e.g., VHDL, Verilog)

Physical Design and Logic Design are closely related stages in chip development. Logic Design focuses on creating the logical circuit functions, while Physical Design involves implementing those functions into physical layouts on silicon. Both roles require knowledge of digital circuits, but Physical Design emphasizes layout optimization and tool proficiency, whereas Logic Design centers on circuit behavior and description.

How to get into physical design?

To enter physical design, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. Gaining experience with hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog, and proficiency in EDA tools such as Synopsys or Cadence, is essential. Internships or entry-level positions in chip design can also provide valuable practical experience.

What is the future of physical design?

The future of physical design in chip design involves increased automation through advanced EDA tools, integration of machine learning for optimization, and a focus on power efficiency and performance. As technology nodes shrink, physical design engineers will need to adapt to more complex constraints and tighter schedules, often requiring expertise in scripting and tool customization.

What are popular job titles related to Physical Design jobs in Minnesota?

For Physical Design jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Physical Design jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Physical Design jobs in Minnesota are:

What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Physical Design jobs?

Cities in Minnesota with the most Physical Design job openings:

Physical Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Physical Design job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $136,538 per year, or $65.6 per hour.

Senior Physical Substation Engineer

ISG (Information Services Group)

Bloomington, MN • On-site

$99K - $126K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Physical Substation Engineer to lead the design of high-voltage transmission and distribution substation physical packages. This will include layouts, bus work, grounding, conduit, and equipment placement. ISG has partnered with utility and energy clients for decades, providing engineers the opportunity to build long-term careers while working on complex projects with ongoing demand.  In this role you will ensure designs meet client(s), utility, and regulatory standards while optimizing for safety, reliability, and constructability. You will have the opportunity to mentor junior staff, review and approve deliverables, and serves as a primary client contact for resolving technical issues.
This position will work on transmission and distribution projects directly associated with FirstEnergy, one of ISG's trusted and longstanding client partners.
Within our Energy Business Unit, ISG's Power Group plays a vital role in delivering resilient infrastructure solutions, supporting projects and clients nationwide.
We operate as a one-profit-center firm and we work as one team across all offices, sharing resources, expertise, and opportunities to best serve our clients and support our employee owners.  Regardless of where this position is posted, we encourage all qualified candidates from any ISG geography to apply.
 
Similar projects and initiatives you may contribute to as part of this role:
  • Substation Upgrades
  • Electrical Substation Misoperated Line Terminal Improvements
  • FAC-008 Facility Rating Projects
  • Develop and review complete physical design packages for high-voltage substations, including one-line and three-line diagrams, general arrangement (GA) drawings and section views, bus work layouts and equipment plans, grounding layouts and calculations per IEEE Std 80, conduit, trench, and cable routing plans, and engineering documents and bill of materials.
  • Ensure compliance with utility, client, and regulatory standards (IEEE, ANSI, NEC, NESC, NFPA).
  • Applies advanced engineering judgment to optimize substation layouts for safety, reliability, constructability, and cost efficiency.
  • Oversees integration of civil, structural, and protection and control (P+C) requirements.
  • Performs and reviews calculations including grounding, voltage drop, conduit fill, lightning protection, illumination and cable sag/tension.
  • Reviews and approves design packages.
  • Leads design coordination meetings with clients, utilities, vendors, and internal teams.
  • Serves as the technical point of contact for clients, providing solutions to complex design challenges.
  • Mentors and guides junior engineers and designers, reviewing their work and providing structured feedback.
  • Supports project schedules and budgets by accurately forecasting design hours and meeting deliverable milestones.
  • Recommends and implements improvements in design processes.
  • Stays current with emerging technologies, equipment, and industry standards impacting substation design.
  • 5+ years of experience in substation physical design, with proven leadership on medium to large projects.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license, required.
  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (with a focus in power systems or related discipline).
  • Experience with grounding analysis software (WinIGS, CYME, CDEGS, or equivalent).
  • Experience with photometric analysis software (Visual Lighting, AGi32, DIALux,Revit or equivalent).
  • Experience with lighting analysis software (WinIGS, CDEGS, PSCAD or equivalent).
  • Experience with Substation Design Suite (SDS) and Inventor preferred but not required.
  • Strong understanding of substation equipment, procurement, and configurations (AIS, transformer banks, ring bus, breaker-and-a-half, etc.).
  • Knowledge of industry codes and standards: IEEE, ANSI, NESC, NEC, NFPA, OSHA.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to interface directly with clients.
  • Valid driver's license and ability to travel for site visits, design reviews, and client meetings.
  • Medical, dental, and vision
  • Paid time off, pro-rated amount available on your start date
  • Paid holidays and paid volunteer time
  • Paid parental leave
  • Bi-annual profit sharing
  • Employee Ownership Stock Plan (ESOP)
  • 401K retirement plan
  • Life insurance
  • HSA and FSA options
  • Bereavement leave
  • Supplemental voluntary benefits
  • Short term and long-term disability
  • Parking reimbursement, varies on office location

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