Senior/Staff CPU Physical Design Engineer - High-Performance Compute / Semiconductors

European Tech Recruit; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

European Tech Recruit is partnering with a global leader in semiconductor innovation to hire a Senior/Staff CPU Physical Design Engineer in Cambridge, UK. The role owns block-level physical implementation for next-generation CPU cores for high-performance compute platforms.

Key responsibilities include RTL-to-GDS, timing closure across modes, and collaboration with RTL, architecture, CAD, and post-silicon teams to improve PPA. Cambridge onsite opportunity.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in physical design — synthesis, floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, timing closure, ECOs, and signoff.
• Solid understanding of STA and timing closure methodologies, including PPA trade-offs.
• Hands-on experience with industry-standard EDA tools — Genus, Innovus, Fusion Compiler, PrimeTime, Tempus, Voltus, RedHawk, or equivalent.
• Scripting experience in TCL, Python, or Perl.
• Experience on CPU cores, advanced nodes (7nm and below), or low-power design techniques advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own or contribute to CPU block implementation from RTL/netlist to GDS.
• Drive timing closure and physical implementation convergence across multiple modes, corners, and operating conditions.
• Debug and resolve complex implementation issues across timing, congestion, clocking, IR drop, power integrity, EM, and DRC/LVS.
• Collaborate with RTL, architecture, circuits, CAD, SoC, and post-silicon teams to improve design quality and PPA.
• Develop and enhance physical design flows, automation, and methodologies.

Skills

Physical design

Timing closure

Scripting (TCL/Python/Perl)

Tools

Genus

Innovus

Fusion Compiler

PrimeTime

Tempus

Voltus

RedHawk

Job description

Senior/Staff CPU Physical Design Engineer - High-Performance Compute / Semiconductors

We are partnered with a global leader in semiconductor and wireless technology innovation. The team is looking to hire a Senior or Staff Server CPU Physical Design Engineer to own block-level physical implementation for next-generation, high-performance custom CPU cores targeting advanced compute and server-class platforms.

This is a permanent, fully onsite opportunity based in Cambridge, UK.

Key responsibilities for this CPU Physical Design Engineer position:

• Own or contribute to CPU block implementation from RTL/netlist to GDS
• Drive timing closure and physical implementation convergence across multiple modes, corners, and operating conditions.
• Debug and resolve complex implementation issues across timing, congestion, clocking, IR drop, power integrity, EM, and DRC/LVS.
• Collaborate with RTL, architecture, circuits, CAD, SoC, and post-silicon teams to improve design quality and PPA.
• Develop and enhance physical design flows, automation, and methodologies.

Key requirements:

• Strong experience in physical design — synthesis, floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, timing closure, ECOs, and signoff.
• Solid understanding of STA and timing closure methodologies, including PPA trade-offs.
• Hands-on experience with industry-standard EDA tools — Genus, Innovus, Fusion Compiler, PrimeTime, Tempus, Voltus, RedHawk, or equivalent.
• Scripting experience in TCL, Python, or Perl.
• Experience on CPU cores, advanced nodes (7nm and below), or low-power design techniques advantageous.

Keywords: Server CPU Physical Design Engineer / Physical Design / Place & Route / Floorplanning / CTS / Timing Closure / STA / ECO / Synthesis / Innovus / Fusion Compiler / PrimeTime / Tempus / Voltus / RedHawk / DRC / LVS / Low Power / CPU / High Performance Compute / Advanced Nodes / TCL / Python

By applying to this role you understand that we may collect your personal data and store and process it on our systems. For more information please see our Privacy Notice https://eu-recruit.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/European-Tech-Recruit-Privacy-Notice-2024.pdf