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Physical Design Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$130 - $170/hr

We're looking for physical design engineers to help manage and execute the physical design process for the various dies that comprise our A-0 and A-1 systems. This will involve deciding what to do in ...

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · 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 ...

Physical Design Engineer

Frisco, TX · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

Lead end to end Physical Design from floorplan to GDS * Own full PnR flow: placement, CTS, routing, optimization, ECOs * Run, debug, and close DRC/LVS for foundry clean signoff * Drive timing closure ...

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 ...

Physical Design Engineer

Frisco, TX · On-site

$127K - $131K/yr

Lead end to end Physical Design from floorplan to GDS * Own full PnR flow: placement, CTS, routing, optimization, ECOs * Run, debug, and close DRC/LVS for foundry clean signoff * Drive timing closure ...

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

We are looking for a Physical Design Engineer to join our Analog Backend team and work on the digital island implementation within our analog chips. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving ...

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$140 - $210/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 ...

Position requires one (1) year of experience in: 1. Physical Design Verification (DRC ); 2. RTL to GDS; 3. SoC Physical Design flow; 4. Static Timing Analysis (STA); 5. optimizing clock quality of ...

The Physical Design team is responsible for translating RTL into manufacturable, high-performance silicon by owning the full physical implementation flow from floorplanning through signoff. In this ...

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$100K - $500K/yr

Tenstorrent is seeking a talented Physical Design Engineer to implement high-performance blocks for our industry-leading CPU and AI/ML architectures. You'll own the complete implementation flow from ...

Physical Design Engineer- Senior

Austin, TX · On-site

$115.60 - $173.40/hr

As a Physical Design Engineer, you will innovate, develop, and implement DSP cores using state‑of‑the‑art tools and technologies. This role requires strong expertise in physical design flow ...

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design database that is ready for manufacturing. * Conducts all aspects of the CPU physical design flow ...

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design database that is ready for manufacturing. * Conducts all aspects of the CPU physical design flow ...

GPU Physical Verification Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

You will be realizing the complete physical design verification closure from early design planning to tapeout. You will have hands on experience in physical design and large chip integration.

GPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX

$134K - $138K/yr

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands-on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design database that is ready for manufacturing. * Conducts all aspects of the CPU physical design flow ...

CPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX

$134K - $138K/yr

Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design database that is ready for manufacturing. * Conducts all aspects of the CPU physical design flow ...

GPU Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands-on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to ...

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Physical Design information

See Texas salary details

$88.5K

$131.8K

How much do physical design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for physical design in Texas is $129,881.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $126,700.00 and $130,400.00 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 the most commonly searched types of Physical Design jobs in Texas?

The most popular types of Physical Design jobs in Texas are:

What cities in Texas are hiring for Physical Design jobs?

Cities in Texas with the most Physical Design job openings:

Infographic showing various Physical Design job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,881 per year, or $62.4 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer

Conductor

Austin, TX • On-site

$130 - $170/hr

Other

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

We’re looking for physical design engineers to help manage and execute the physical design process for the various dies that comprise our A-0 and A-1 systems. This will involve deciding what to do in-house and outsource, and then managing the outsourced process and integrating it with the in-house flow and effort.

Ideal Candidates:

Ideal candidates will have:

  • Hands-on experience with the physical design process for at least one block in multiple advanced node tapeouts
  • Ability to understand what PPA limiters are from RTL and coordinate with microarchitects to change the RTL to improve/fix them
  • Experience both with in-house and outsourced physical design flows
Nice to Have:
  • Experience with physical design process for multi-die/multi-chiplet/MCM designs
  • Experience with physical design process for reticle-max or near reticle max designs
  • Experience with very high power density chips
  • Experience with the physical design process for AI chips
  • Experience with the physical design process of analog and mixed signal blocks and macros
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