Staff Engineer, Physical Design​/Implementation

Company:

Qualcomm Canada ULCJob Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group  ASICS Engineering General

Summary:

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

You will lead and drive physical design implementation for complex, large-scale retimer-class and full-reticle ASIC products in advanced technology nodes. This role requires strong technical leadership to synthesize ambiguous requirements, drive execution across cross-functional teams, and deliver high-quality silicon meeting aggressive power, performance, and area (PPA) targets. Replacement Position What You'll DoLead and execute end-to-end Physical Design flow for SoC and retimer ASICs, including:

Floor planning Clock Tree Synthesis (CTS)
Placement & Routing Power Delivery Network (PDN)
Timing analysis and closure

Plan and implement full-chip or hierarchical designs, including full-reticle-scale integration

Drive timing closure across all corners and modes (MMMC), including SI-aware optimization

Perform and review physical verification checks:

DRC, LVSDesign-for-manufacturability (DFM)
Design-for-yield (DFY)
Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams (front-end, analog/Ser Des, DFT, packaging, silicon validation) to ensure design convergence and tapeout readiness

Lead integration of high-speed Ser Des macros and mixed-signal IP, ensuring robust floorplan and signal integrity alignment

Drive IR/EM closure, power optimization, and congestion mitigation for large die designs

Provide schedules, risk assessment, and execution tracking to drive successful silicon tapeouts

Act as a strong technical contributor in design reviews and project meetings, influencing architecture and implementation decisions

Develop and improve physical design methodologies and flows to enhance efficiency and scalability

What You'll Need:

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of experience, OR Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years of progressive experience in ASIC Physical Design or related domain

Strong experience with :

End-to-end ASIC Physical Design flow Timing closure and signoff methodologies

Physical verification flows

Hands-on expertise in industry-standard EDA tools (e.g., Cadence Innovus / Synopsys ICC2)
Solid understanding of:

Power delivery and reliability (IR/EM)
Clocking architectures and CTSLarge-scale SoC integration challenges

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with high-speed Ser Des / retimer designs (PAM4-class signaling)

Experience with full-reticle or near-reticle SoC implementation

Familiarity with multi-die / chiplet / advanced packaging architectures

Exposure to data center, networking, or optical connectivity ASICsStrong scripting and automation skills (Python, Tcl)
Key Competencies Proven ability to lead complex PD execution in high-pressure tapeout environments

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail

Ability to synthesize ambiguous or conflicting requirements into execution plans

Effective collaboration across global, cross-functional engineering teams

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.

ORMaster's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 3+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.

ORPhD in Science, Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.

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.

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