Staff Engineer, Physical Design​/Implementation

Company

Qualcomm Canada ULC

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 communication and data processing transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all.

• Lead 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, LVS
  • Design‑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

• 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 CTS
  • Large‑scale SoC integration challenges

• 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 ASICs
• Strong scripting and automation skills (Python, Tcl)

• 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

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field and 3+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.
• PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience.

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 disability‑ 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…