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Principal Physical Design Engineer 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 ...

Intel

Physical Design Engineer

Folsom, CA · On-site

$105K - $200K/yr

As a Physical Design Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of custom IP and SoC designs at Intel. Your work will directly influence the cutting-edge technology that ...

Intel

Physical Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$105K - $200K/yr

As a Physical Design Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of custom IP and SoC designs at Intel. Your work will directly influence the cutting-edge technology that ...

iFlow Inc

Physical Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Physical Design Engineer Location:Sunnyvale, CA OR Austin,TX Duration: Long term experience: 5-18 years only ( No 18+ years profile) Job Overview: We are looking for a highly skilled Physical Design ...

Eliyan

PD - IP Lead - Sr Staff, Physical Design

Mundelein, IL · On-site

$138K - $142K/yr

As an Eliyan Sr Staff / Principal Physical Design Engineer, you will be working at a fast-paced early-stage startup creating technologies that fuel tomorrow's chiplet based systems with best-in-class ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$147K - $272K/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

$126K - $220K/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 ...

Futran Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Physical Design Engineer

$139K - $143K/yr

Overall, 7 to 12 yrs of exp as a Physical Design Engineer. (Remote Opening) Must Have : Advance Node Exp 3nm/5nm,Full Chip Integration, Advance/Complex SOC Integration, Cadence/Synopsys (Innovus ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$181K - $318K/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

$126K - $220K/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 ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$147K - $272K/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 ...

Apple

Physical Design Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$181K - $318K/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 ...

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

Cupertino, CA

$126K - $220K/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

$126K - $220K/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

Bodega Bay, CA

$147K - $272K/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 ...

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 ...

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All JobsPrincipal Physical Design Engineer Jobs

Principal Physical Design Engineer information

See salary details

$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal physical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal physical design engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Principal Physical Design Engineer vs Physical Design Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Physical Design EngineerPhysical Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or related; extensive experienceBachelor's/Master's in Electrical Engineering or related; some experience
Work EnvironmentLead design teams, oversee complex chip layouts, strategic planningImplement physical design tasks, optimize layouts, follow design flows
Industry UsageUsed in advanced semiconductor companies, high-level design rolesCommon in semiconductor companies, entry to mid-level roles

The Principal Physical Design Engineer typically holds a senior role with leadership responsibilities, overseeing complex projects and guiding teams. In contrast, a Physical Design Engineer focuses on executing physical design tasks under supervision. Both roles require similar technical skills and industry experience, but the principal position involves strategic planning and higher-level decision-making.

What are Principal Physical Design Engineers?

Principal Physical Design Engineers are senior professionals in the semiconductor industry responsible for overseeing the physical implementation of integrated circuit (IC) designs. They lead teams in tasks like floorplanning, placement, routing, timing closure, and verification to ensure that chip layouts meet performance, power, and area requirements. These engineers use specialized design tools and collaborate closely with other engineering teams throughout the chip development process. Their expertise is crucial for translating circuit schematics into manufacturable silicon.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Principal Physical Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Physical Design Engineer, you need deep expertise in ASIC/FPGA physical design, strong knowledge of RTL-to-GDSII flow, and a relevant degree in electrical or computer engineering. Proficiency with EDA tools such as Synopsys, Cadence, or Mentor Graphics, as well as familiarity with scripting languages and industry-standard verification methodologies, is essential. Exceptional problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help drive complex projects and collaborate across cross-functional teams. These skills are crucial to ensure optimal chip performance, timely delivery, and successful integration within advanced semiconductor development environments.

What are some typical challenges faced by Principal Physical Design Engineers when managing complex chip development projects?

Principal Physical Design Engineers often navigate challenges such as balancing power, performance, and area (PPA) requirements while meeting tight project deadlines. They must coordinate across multiple teams, including logic design and verification, to resolve integration issues and ensure that design constraints are met. Additionally, they frequently address timing closure and signal integrity concerns, requiring advanced problem-solving and project management skills. The role demands staying current with EDA tools and process technologies to drive innovation and efficiency in chip design workflows.
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What job categories do people searching Principal Physical Design Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Physical Design Engineer jobs are:
Principal Physical Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Physical Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 59% Full Time, 34% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.
Physical Design Engineer

Physical Design Engineer

Apple

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$160K - $164K/yr

Full-time

Posted 6 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 666 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

At Apple we work every single day to craft products that enrich people's lives. Do you love working on challenges that no one has solved yet? Do you like changing the game? 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 products that will delight and encourage millions of Apple's customers every single day. In this role, we will be at the center of a PHY design effort working with architecture, CAD, timing, and logic design teams, with a critical impact on delivering outstanding PHY designs. You will be required to do physical designs of outstanding PHY design.
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 but are not limited to: Generate block/chip level static timing constraints. Build full chip floor-plan including pin placement, partitions and power grid. Develop and validate high performance low power clock network guidelines. Perform block level place and route and close the design to meet timing, area and power constraints. Generate and Implement ECOs to fix timing, noise and EM IR violations. Run Physical Design verification flow at chip/block level and provide guidelines to fix LVS/DRC violations to other designers. Participate in establishing CAD and physical design methodologies for correct by construction designs. Assist in flow development for chip integration.
Minimum Qualifications
BS and a minimum of 20 years relevant industry experiences.
Preferred Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have deep design experience in high PHY and/or SOC designs.
Deep Knowledge about industry standards and practices in Physical Design, including Physically aware synthesis, Floor-planning, and Place & Route.
Experience in developing and implementing Power-grid and Clock specifications.
Strong understanding of all aspects of Physical construction, Integration and Physical Verification.
Shown Knowledge of Basic SoC Architecture and HDL languages like Verilog to be able with logic design team for timing fixes.
Power user of industry standard Physical Design & Synthesis tools.
Deep Understanding of scripting languages such as Perl/Tcl, solid understanding of Extraction and STA methodology and tools.
Deep Understanding of Physical Design Verification methodology to debug LVS/DRC issues at chip/block level.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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