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Physical Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hudson River Trading

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 ...

Nvidia Corporation

Physical Design Engineer

Westford, MA · On-site

$141K - $145K/yr

NVIDIA is looking for best-in-class Senior Physical Design Engineers to join our outstanding Networking Silicon engineering team, developing the industry's best high speed communication devices ...

Talent 101, Inc.

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 ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

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 ...

Mirafra Technology

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$144K - $148K/yr

Job Overview: The Graphics team is looking for Experienced Physical Design Engineers to work on Adreno Graphics cores in the area of Physical Implementation. Responsibilities: The Physical ...

Etched

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

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 ...

Wipro Limited

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$60K - $135K/yr

Physical Design Engineer City: Austin State/Province: Texas Posting Start Date: 6/18/26 Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading technology services and consulting company ...

Nvidia

Physical Design Engineer

Westford, MA

$141K - $145K/yr

NVIDIA is looking for best-in-class Senior Physical Design Engineers to join our outstanding Networking Silicon engineering team, developing the industry's best high speed communication devices ...

Mirafra Technology

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA

$144K - $148K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location : San Diego,CA Type : Full Time Job Overview: To do Floor planning, P&R, timing closure SI prevention/fixing, power planning, CTS, PV and I/R drop for Block as well ...

Broadcom

Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$141K - $226K/yr

Resolve physical design issues related to chip integration and assembly * Manage all cross functional interactions related to top level floorplanning, I/O and bump planning with package team

CivicMinds, Inc.

Physical Design Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$145K - $150K/yr

Physical design engineers are ideally creative, motivated, energetic, pleasant to work with, and put the needs of the team first. These candidates will be responsible for designs and test structures ...

Eridu AI

Physical Design Engineer

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$210K - $250K/yr

Define the Physical Assembly of SOC. involving all aspects of physical design functions such as P&R, timing, floorplan, clocking, electrical analysis, and power. * Proficiency in Synthesis design ...

Meta

ASIC Engineer, Physical Design

Sunnyvale, CA

$178K/yr

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 ...

Meta

Silicon Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$178K/yr

The Silicon Physical Design team is responsible for translating complex chip architectures into manufacturable, high-performance layouts that meet the demanding power, performance, and area ...

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All JobsPhysical Design Jobs

Physical Design information

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$95K

$141.5K

How much do physical design jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 23, 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 engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, data engineering, or hardware engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries like technology or finance. Executive-level engineering roles, such as CTOs or engineering directors, may also reach or exceed this compensation level. Achieving this salary often requires advanced degrees, certifications, and leadership responsibilities.

What does a physical designer do?

A physical designer is responsible for translating a digital circuit design into a physical layout on silicon, ensuring that the design meets timing, power, and area requirements. They use electronic design automation (EDA) tools to place and route components, optimize performance, and verify manufacturability. This role requires knowledge of semiconductor fabrication processes and design rules.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

In the field of physical design, senior engineers such as chip design engineers or EDA (Electronic Design Automation) specialists can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in hardware description languages, and proficiency with tools like Synopsys or Cadence. High compensation is often associated with roles in semiconductor companies or large tech firms, and may include bonuses and stock options.

What are 20 careers in design?

Design careers encompass roles such as graphic designer, industrial designer, user experience (UX) designer, user interface (UI) designer, fashion designer, interior designer, web designer, product designer, architectural designer, game designer, motion graphics designer, textile designer, visual designer, packaging designer, exhibit designer, landscape designer, furniture designer, multimedia designer, branding designer, and CAD technician. These roles often require proficiency with design software, creativity, and technical skills, and they can be found in industries like technology, fashion, architecture, entertainment, and advertising.

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.

More about Physical Design jobs
What cities are hiring for Physical Design jobs? Cities with the most Physical Design job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Design jobs? The most popular types of Physical Design jobs are:
What states have the most Physical Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Physical Design jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Physical Design jobs look for? 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 July 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Contract. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,408 per year, or $67 per hour.
Physical Design Engineer

Physical Design Engineer

Hudson River Trading

Austin, TX • On-site

$134K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 25 days ago

Job description

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 advance our physical design methodologies on leading-edge process nodes.
The Hardware team at HRT builds high-performance compute engines using FPGA and ASIC technology to drive low-latency trading decisions on global markets. We create custom solutions across the full spectrum of speed and sophistication, from bespoke circuits to world-class machine learning accelerators.
Responsibilities
  • Drive design-for-test (DFT) methodologies and implementation
  • Contribute to physical implementation, from RTL handoff through GDSII on advanced process nodes
  • Partner on floorplanning and physical optimization for high-performance, latency-critical designs
  • Close timing across multiple modes and corners while optimizing power, performance, and area (PPA)
  • Diagnose and resolve physical design issues such as timing bottlenecks, congestion, and IR/EM violations
  • Build, maintain, and improve repeatable, automated physical design flows
  • Develop scripts and tooling to improve productivity, robustness, and insight into design behavior
  • Collaborate closely with RTL, architecture, and other hardware engineers to influence design decisions early

Qualifications
  • Experience working in high-performance ASIC design environments
  • Strong fundamentals in digital logic, circuit design, and process technology
  • Familiarity with DFT concepts and testing methodologies
  • Strong scripting and automation skills (Python, Tcl, shell), including parsing and analyzing tool outputs
  • Ability to design robust methodologies, diagnose complex failures, and improve physical design flows
  • Applied use of statistics in analyzing timing, power, or design data (preferred)
  • Hands-on experience with static timing analysis and timing closure methodologies
  • Expertise using industry-standard physical design and signoff tools (e.g., Innovus, PrimeTime)

This job is accepting ongoing applications and there is no application deadline.
The estimated base salary range for this position is 200,000 to 300,000 USD per year (or local equivalent). The base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
This role will also be eligible for discretionary performance-based bonuses and a competitive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, and enrollment in our company's retirement savings plans. Employees will receive sick and parental leave, as well as other paid time off (including 20 vacation days and 10 paid holidays in the US). Please note that benefits and time off policies will vary across non-US locations.
In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Culture
Hudson River Trading (HRT) brings a scientific approach to trading financial products. We have built one of the world's most sophisticated computing environments for research and development. Our researchers are at the forefront of innovation in the world of algorithmic trading.
At HRT we welcome a variety of expertise: mathematics and computer science, physics and engineering, media and tech. We're a community of self-starters who are motivated by the excitement of being at the cutting edge of automation in every part of our organization-from trading, to business operations, to recruiting and beyond. We value openness and transparency, and celebrate great ideas from HRT veterans and new hires alike. At HRT we're friends and colleagues - whether we are sharing a meal, playing the latest board game, or writing elegant code. We embrace a culture of togetherness that extends far beyond the walls of our office.
Feel like you belong at HRT? Our goal is to find the best people and bring them together to do great work in a place where everyone is valued. HRT is proud of our diverse staff; we have offices all over the globe and benefit from our varied and unique perspectives. HRT is an equal opportunity employer; so whoever you are we'd love to get to know you.
Please be advised: Use of AI tools during interviews or assessments is strictly prohibited, unless otherwise instructed or agreed upon. We employ various methods to evaluate the authenticity of candidate responses. If we determine that AI assistance was used during any stage of the hiring process, we reserve the right to immediately disqualify your candidacy or rescind any job offers extended.

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