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Physical Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$160K - $164K/yr

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and unusually hardworking Physical Design Engineer. As a member of our wide-ranging group, you will have the rare and great opportunity to craft upcoming ...

search-tactics

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$70 - $80/hr

Physical Design Engineer Location: San Jose, CA Hybrid Duration: 12 Months VISA: H-1, GC, USC is okay C2C Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Physical Design Engineer to support the ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Physical Design Engineer Etched is looking for exceptional PD engineers to join our team. The candidate will be responsible for working with 3rd party design services to implement and verify physical ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Beaverton, OR

$184K - $324K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII.","responsibilities":"Generate ...

Micron Technology, Inc

Principal Physical Design

Boise, ID · On-site

$140 - $210/hr

This role will drive physical design execution from RTL through tapeout, with a strong focus on timing closure, power integrity, EMIR analysis, and design reliability. The engineer will collaborate ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$262K - $394K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Altera

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA

$133K - $192K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Physical Design Engineer to join our Silicon Engineering and Physical Design organization. In this role, you will be responsible for implementing advanced custom IP ...

Altera Corporation

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$118K - $169K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Physical Design Engineer to join our Silicon Design Automation & Implementation organization. In this role, you will contribute to the implementation of custom IP and ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII.","responsibilities":"Your ...

Intelliswift Software

Physical Design Engineer

Phoenix, AZ · On-site

$135K - $139K/yr

Physical Design Develop & own physical design implementation of multi-hierarchy low-power designs including physical-aware logic synthesis, design for testability, floor-plan, place & route, static ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Physical Design Engineer Etched is looking for exceptional PD engineers to join our team. The candidate will be responsible for working with 3rd party design services to implement and verify physical ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Beaverton, OR

$184K - $324K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Beaverton, OR

$184K - $324K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Apple Inc.

Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$184.70 - $324.80/hr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$129K - $225K/yr

Description As a Physical Design engineer you will contribute to all phases of physical design of high performance PHY design from RTL to delivery of our final GDSII. Your responsibilities include ...

Ekcel Systems

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Bay Area, CA Long term Contract F2F is required Good understanding of Cadence tools (Innovous, Quantus, Voltus). (Must) Deep knowledge about industry standards in Physical ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsPhysical Design Jobs

Physical Design information

See salary details

$95K

$141.5K

How much do physical design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for physical design 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 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.
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Cities with the most Physical Design job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Design jobs?

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What states have the most Physical Design jobs?

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The top searched job categories for Physical Design jobs are:

Physical Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Physical Design job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 20% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,408 per year, or $67 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer

Apetan Consulting llc

West Menlo Park, CA • On-site

$80 - $150/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Role: Physical Design Engineer

Location: San Jose, CA

Job Description:


Handling the physical design implementation for various partitions using advanced tech, including things like physical-aware logic synthesis, design for testability, floorplan, place and route, static timing analysis, and EMIR. They'll also sort out any design and flow issues related to physical design, figure out solutions, and get things done.

Required Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (or similar experience).

● 7+ years of experience in physical design.

● A good grasp of RTL2GDS flow and design tapeouts in 5nm or smaller process tech.

● Experience with Synopsys EDA tools like Fusion Compiler and Primetime. Additional skills the Whole Team Needs (as a collective):

● Experience with custom or regular clock tree synthesis (block or top level) and techniques to reduce clock power.

● Experience with low-power implementation, power gating, multiple voltage rails, and UPF knowledge.

● Experience with PTPX power flow.

rails, and UPF knowledge.

● Experience with PTPX power flow.