CPU Physical Design and Integration Engineer

Apple Inc.; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee stock purchase plan

Relocation assistance

Discretionary bonuses

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a CPU Physical Design and Integration Engineer to join the hardware team. You will lead physical design, integration, and verification for high‑performance processors, drive tape‑out sign‑off, and collaborate across Implementation/CAD and SOC teams.

The role requires experience with place and route, physical verification, and scripting (Perl/Tcl). You will automate tasks and contribute to flow development, with opportunities for growth in a dynamic

Qualifications

• Experience with place and route and physical verification.
• Experience with a scripting language such as Perl or Tcl.

Responsibilities

• Participating in the physical design, integration, and verification of high‑performance, low‑power processor development.
• Block partitioning and pin placements.
• Own chip‑level place and route (PnR), final CPU layout database construction, and verification (PDV).
• Work with the Implementation/CAD teams during the entire chip design cycle to drive sign‑off closure for tape‑out.
• Work with the SOC team to meet IP technical and delivery requirements.
• Participate in flow development for chip integration and analysis.
• Scripting to automate tasks and improve debug efficiency, including genAI initiatives.

Skills

Place and route experience

Physical verification

Tools

Perl

Tcl

Job description

CPU Physical Design and Integration Engineer

Santa Clara, California, United States Hardware

Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish! Dynamic, thoughtful people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Do you want join us in these pursuits? Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product! In this highly visible role, you will be at the center of a processor design effort collaborating across domains, with a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers quickly.

Description

• Participating in the physical design, integration, and verification of high‑performance, low‑power processor development.
• Block partitioning and pin placements.
• Own chip‑level place and route (PnR), final CPU layout database construction, and verification (PDV).
• Work with the Implementation/CAD teams during the entire chip design cycle to drive sign‑off closure for tape‑out.
• Work with the SOC team to meet IP technical and delivery requirements.
• Participate in flow development for chip integration and analysis.
• Scripting to automate tasks and improve debug efficiency, including genAI initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with place and route and physical verification.
• Experience with a scripting language such as Perl or Tcl.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of industry standard place and route tools and practices in physical design.
• Fundamentals of physical construction, PDV, DRC/LVS verification.
• Working knowledge of Python.
• Understanding of CMOS circuit design.
• Working knowledge of extraction, STA, EMIR concepts.
• Ability to work well in a team, being an excellent problem solver, and self‑motivated.

Benefits

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Equal Opportunity & Accessibility

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.