Block-Level Physical Design Engineer — Frontier AI Clusters

The Consensus; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Housing subsidy

Relocation support

Daily meals

Unlimited compute budget

Job summary

Etched is building a new category of AI hardware in Austin. As a Physical Design Engineer, you will own block-level implementation from synthesis through GDSII sign-off and drive block-level PPA optimization while collaborating with RTL designers to accelerate product delivery.

We value 5–10+ years of PD experience, flow expertise from RTL to GDSII, and strong skills in timing closure, sign-off tools, and scripting for automation.

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of PD experience.
• Experience with RTL-to-GDSII flows.
• Back-end design and timing closure on advanced nodes (5nm and below).
• Experience with sign-off tools (PrimeTime, Tempus, Voltus).
• UPF-based low power design, power verification, synthesis, ATPG, and routing analysis.
• Scripting in Tcl, Python, or Perl for flow automation.

Responsibilities

• Own block-level physical design end to end from floorplanning to GDSII sign-off.
• Drive timing closure across corners and modes; develop constraints and ECOs.
• Achieve sign-off for EM, IR drop, RC extraction, antenna, and physical verification.
• Create abstracts, views, and timing budgets for hierarchical integration.
• Collaborate with RTL designers to improve PPA and feedback loops.
• Supervise outsourced PD work and ensure quality of delivered blocks.

Skills

PD ownership

RTL-to-GDSII flow

Timing closure

Low-power design

Scripting (Tcl/Python/Perl)

First-principles thinking

Tools

Cadence (Innovus/Genus)

Synopsys (Fusion Compiler)

PrimeTime/Tempus/Voltus

Job description

Etched is building a new category of AI hardware in Austin. As a Physical Design Engineer, you will own block-level implementation from synthesis through GDSII sign-off and drive block-level PPA optimization while collaborating with RTL designers to accelerate product delivery.

We value 5–10+ years of PD experience, flow expertise from RTL to GDSII, and strong skills in timing closure, sign-off tools, and scripting for automation.