VLSI Optimization Engineer

Job Title

VLSI Design Automation Engineer

Qualcomm Semiconductor Limited

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > ASICS Engineering

As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives digital transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all.

Are you passionate about building intelligent tools to solve real-world VLSI design challenges? Do you want to leverage modern AI-assisted development techniques to rapidly prototype and deploy impactful solutions? This role focuses on VLSI design automation with strong linkage to physical layout and sign-off quality.

In this role, you will:

• Work closely with internal teams to understand VLSI design and layout challenges
• Apply software engineering and algorithmic thinking to build scalable automation solutions
• Utilize modern AI-assisted tools (e.g., AI agents, code generation) to improve development productivity
• Contribute to solving DTCO and physical design trade-offs with awareness of sign-off requirements

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand design, layout, and process constraints
• Develop and maintain automation tools for VLSI design productivity improvement
• Leverage AI-assisted development tools (e.g., code generation, AI agents) to accelerate development
• Understand and incorporate physical design and verification requirements, including:
• DRC (Design Rule Check)
• LVS (Layout vs. Schematic)
• Basic parasitic and sign-off considerations
• Support analysis of design trade-offs (DTCO) across design and process domains
• Write clean, maintainable, and scalable code

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
• Strong programming skills in Python or similar languages
• Experience with Linux/Unix development environments
• Solid foundation in:
• Data structures and algorithms
• General mathematical reasoning and problem-solving ability
• Basic understanding of:
• VLSI design fundamentals (CMOS, circuits, or physical design concepts)
• Physical verification concepts (DRC, LVS, sign-off flows)
• Exposure to:
• AI-assisted development tools (e.g., code generation, scripting automation, or similar workflows)
• Constraint-based problem solving, such as:
• Constraint Satisfaction Problems (CSP)
• ILP / SAT / SMT approaches (conceptual understanding is sufficient)
Preferred Qualifications
• Hands-on project or internship experience in VLSI CAD / EDA / layout / physical design automation
• Familiarity with layout data formats, design rules, or basic EDA tools
• Experience applying optimization or algorithmic problem-solving to real-world problems
• Experience using AI tools to improve coding productivity in practical workflows
• Strong debugging, problem decomposition, and learning ability
• Good communication and teamwork skills
Why Qualcomm?
• Innovative Environment:
  Work on cutting-edge semiconductor technologies
• Learning & Growth:
  Strong mentorship and growth opportunities for early-career engineers
• Impact:
  Build tools that directly influence real silicon products
• Collaborative Culture:
  Work across design, process, and software domains
Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field.

Applicants:
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disabili or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process.

Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.

To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies:
Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job ffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location.

Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.