Graduate Server CPU Physical Design Engineer

Qualcomm is seeking talented Graduate Server CPU Physical Design Engineers to join the Nuvia Data Centre CPU team in Cambridge, UK. The team is developing next‑generation, high‑performance, power‑efficient custom CPU cores for advanced compute and server‑class platforms that will help transform the industry.

This is an exciting opportunity for graduates who want to start their engineering career working on cutting‑edge CPU technology. You will learn from experienced engineers and contribute to the physical implementation of high‑performance CPU designs, gaining exposure to the full journey from RTL/netlist through implementation, timing closure, signoff, and silicon delivery.

You will work with global teams across CPU architecture, RTL design, circuit design, CAD, SoC integration, timing, power, and post‑silicon validation. Over time, you will develop the skills needed to contribute to demanding performance, power, and area (PPA) targets for advanced server‑class CPU products.

• Learn and contribute to CPU block physical implementation from RTL/netlist to GDS, including synthesis, floor planning, placement, clock tree synthesis, routing, optimization, ECOs, and signoff.
• Support timing closure and implementation convergence across multiple modes, corners, and operating conditions.
• Work with experienced engineers to analyse and improve performance, power, and area for high‑performance, low‑power CPU designs.
• Help debug physical design issues related to timing, congestion, routing, clocking, power, physical verification, DRC/LVS, and ECO closure.
• Use industry‑standard EDA tools and flows for synthesis, place and route, static timing analysis, power analysis, and physical verification.
• Develop scripting and automation skills to improve productivity, data analysis, and design‑flow efficiency.
• Collaborate with RTL, architecture, CAD, circuits, SoC, and post‑silicon teams to understand design intent and implementation trade‑offs.
• Learn how CPU designs progress from early concept through implementation, verification, signoff, and productization.
• Contribute to methodology improvements, automation, documentation, and data‑driven analysis under the guidance of senior engineers.

• Good understanding of digital logic design, CMOS fundamentals, VLSI design, or semiconductor design concepts.
• Basic understanding of static timing analysis concepts, including setup, hold, clocking, timing paths, and timing constraints.
• Exposure to scripting or programming using one or more of: TCL, Python, Perl.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to learn complex technical concepts quickly and apply them in a practical engineering environment.
• Good communication skills and willingness to work in a collaborative, global engineering team.

• University coursework, internship, thesis, or project work in VLSI, ASIC design, physical design, digital IC design, computer architecture, or EDA.
• Familiarity with EDA tools used for synthesis, place and route, STA, power analysis, or physical verification.
• Experience with Verilog/System Verilog, digital logic design, or RTL concepts.
• Understanding of CPU architecture, pipelines, caches, clocking, or low‑power design concepts.
• Experience using Linux‑based engineering environments.
• Data analysis skills and ability to work with reports, logs, metrics, and design results.
• Curiosity about how high‑performance CPU designs are physically implemented and optimised.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• Or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Microelectronics, Semiconductor Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Or PhD in a relevant technical field with research or project experience related to digital design, VLSI, ASIC implementation, CPU design, or semiconductor design.
• Recent graduates and candidates with internship, industrial placement, academic research, or project experience in relevant areas are encouraged to apply.