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Tapeout Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Physical Design Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$146K - $150K/yr

Physical design implementation at block or top level, low power techniques and timing closure Job Duties Include: - Will own all parts of the physical design process from netlist handoff to tapeout ...

As a Principal Design Engineer located in Scottsdale, Arizona, you will have the opportunity to ... Highly skilled in Cadence design tools for schematic capture, simulations, DRC, LVS for tapeout.

Sr. Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$180 - $240/hr

Perform tapeout signoff activities, including PV, EM/IR, ESD and ejobview using industryโ€‘standard ... Engineering, or a related field. * Experience: 8+ years of handsโ€‘on physical design experience ...

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA ยท On-site

$180K - $230K/yr

We're looking for a hands-on Physical Design Engineer to support complex SoC projects for our ... Will work of full project lifecycle from inception to tapeout. Qualifications: * BSEE with 5+ years ...

Tech Lead Design Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$185K - $240K/yr

Drive structured, data-driven design decisions in support of aggressive tapeout schedules Basic Qualifications * Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field ...

Physical Design Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA ยท On-site

$161K - $166K/yr

We're looking for a hands-on Physical Design Engineer to support complex SoC projects for our ... Will work of full project lifecycle from inception to tapeout. Qualifications: * BSEE with 5+ years ...

Sr. Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$159K - $164K/yr

Perform tapeout signoff activities, including PV, EM/IR, ESD and ejobview using industry-standard ... Engineering, or a related field. * Experience: 8+ years of hands-on physical design experience ...

Sr. Physical Design Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$180 - $260/hr

Senior Physical Design Engineer** to join our silicon design team developing high-performance ASIC ... Perform tapeout signoff activities, including PV, EM/IR, ESD and ejobview using industry-standard ...

Physical Design Engineer, PnR

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$100K - $500K/yr

Tenstorrent is seeking talented Physical Design Engineers to implement high-performance partitions ... You'll own the complete implementation flow from synthesis to tapeout, working alongside world ...

Showing results 41-60

Tapeout Design Engineer information

See salary details

$40.5K

$88.2K

$158.5K

How much do tapeout design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for tapeout design engineer in the United States is $88,150.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $98,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a tapeout design engineer?

Tapeout Design Engineers are professionals responsible for finalizing the layout and design of integrated circuits (ICs) before manufacturing. They ensure that all design specifications are met, and that the chip layout is error-free and ready for fabrication. Their work involves collaborating with design, verification, and foundry teams to deliver a manufacturable design, often using tools for physical verification, design rule checking, and layout-versus-schematic checks. This role is critical in the semiconductor industry, as any errors at tapeout can result in costly manufacturing delays. Tapeout Design Engineers play a key role in bringing new microchips from concept to production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tapeout design engineer?

To thrive as a Tapeout Design Engineer, you need a solid background in semiconductor physics, digital/analog circuit design, and a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with EDA tools such as Cadence, Synopsys, and experience with physical verification, DRC/LVS checks, and scripting languages like Python or TCL are typically required. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are valuable soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring error-free silicon fabrication, efficient workflow, and successful collaboration across engineering teams.

What are some common challenges tapeout design engineers face during the tapeout process, and how can they be addressed?

Tapeout Design Engineers often encounter tight deadlines, last-minute design changes, and the need to coordinate between multiple teams such as layout, verification, and fabrication. Addressing these challenges typically involves proactive communication, thorough planning, and the use of automated verification tools to catch errors early. Effective collaboration and robust documentation help ensure that any issues are quickly identified and resolved, minimizing the risk of costly delays or rework in the fabrication stage.

What is the difference between Tapeout Design Engineer vs ASIC Design Engineer?

AspectTapeout Design EngineerASIC Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or related field; knowledge of EDA toolsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or related field; strong digital design skills
Work EnvironmentSemiconductor companies, chip design firms, EDA tool providersSemiconductor companies, integrated circuit design firms
Industry UsageFocuses on final chip layout and manufacturing readinessDesigns the digital architecture and logic of chips

While both roles require a background in electrical engineering and familiarity with EDA tools, a Tapeout Design Engineer specializes in preparing the final chip layout for manufacturing, ensuring design rules are met. An ASIC Design Engineer focuses on creating the digital logic and architecture of integrated circuits. The roles often collaborate but differ mainly in their stage of the design process and specific responsibilities.

More about Tapeout Design Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for Tapeout Design Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Tapeout Design Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Tapeout Design Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Tapeout Design Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Tapeout Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $88,150 per year, or $42.4 per hour.

Physical Design Engineer

System Canada Technologies

Irvine, CA โ€ข On-site

$146K - $150K/yr

Contractor

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

Company Description

SCT resources have a broad range of skills in different technologies.ย The large skill-set has been made possible by a conscious focus on strengthening our skills base. Every person selected for our team brings something new, something that adds to our offerings. We learn continuously, both on the job and through formal training programs.

Job Description

Job Description:

Physical design implementation at block or top level, low power techniques and timing closure

Job Duties Include:

- Will own all parts of the physical design process from netlist handoff to tapeout including floorplanning, place and route, clock tree synthesis, timing closure and physical verification

- Verify effects of crosstalk, IR drop and electromigration

- Very comfortable writing scripts in TCL and Perl to achieve higher performance and productivity through automation

- Work very closely with logic designers, who are members of this same group, to build complex SOC's

Job Requirements:

- BSEE with 6+ (or MSEE with 3+) years related experience;

- Physical design knowledge, from netlist handoff to GDS tapeout including floorplanning, place and route, clock tree synthesis, timing closure and physical verification

- Experience with 45nm or 28nm technology

- Experience with low power techniques

- Experience with TCL and Perl

- Excellent communication and presentation skills

- Well organized, methodical and detail oriented


System Canada logo

About System Canada

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

System Canada delivers high end solutions in corporate world. Our resources have a broad range of skills in different technologies.The large skill-set has been made possible by a conscious focus on strengthening our skills base. Every person selected for our team brings something new, something that adds to our offerings. We learn continuously, both on the job and through formal training programs.

Industry

It services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Toronto, ON, CA