GPU Physical Design Engineer

Apple Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. is seeking a highly skilled engineer to contribute to silicon technology development for GPUs. You will work on design convergence, physical design optimization, and integration of complex RTL into tapeout-ready flows.

The role requires strong collaboration with FE teams and in-depth knowledge of PPA, timing, and signoff across modern nodes. This position targets candidates with hands-on experience in ASIC implementation and a passion for performance and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or CS required.
• Experience or coursework in physical design, synthesis, DFT or clocking.
• Experience or coursework with digital logic design, RTL, CMOS transistor logic or VLSI concepts.
• Experience with scripting languages such as TCL, Python, Perl or shell scripting.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the FE team to understand chip architecture and drive physical aspects early in design cycle.
• Drive PD construction and optimization recipes for performance, power and area (PPA).
• Work on pioneering designs in the latest technology nodes.
• Collaborate to drive methodologies and best known methods to streamline PD work, guidelines, checklists, and execution.
• Lead and resolve design and flow issues related to physical design and drive execution.

Skills

Physical design

Synthesis

DFT

Clocking

Digital logic design

RTL

CMOS transistor logic

VLSI concepts

Scripting languages

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

EDA tools

APIs

Job description

Do you love creating sophisticated solutions to highly complex challenges? As part of our Silicon Technologies group, you’ll help design and manufacture our next‑generation, high‑performance, power‑efficient GPU! You’ll ensure Apple products and services can seamlessly handle the tasks that make them beloved by millions! Joining this group means crafting and building the technology that fuels Apple’s devices. Together, we enable our customers to do all the things they love with their devices. This role requires a mix of strategic engineering along with hands‑on experience in physical design and large chip integration, being responsible for implementing complete chip design from RTL to tapeout.

Description

Work closely with the FE team to understand chip architecture and drive physical aspects early in design cycle. Drive outstanding PD construction and optimization recipes for performance, power and area (PPA). Work on pioneering designs in the latest technology nodes. Collaborate to drive methodologies and “best known methods” to streamline PD work, come up with guidelines and checklists, drive execution, and supervise progress. Drive the work among place and route engineers, set goals and breakthroughs, plan short and long‑term work, understand dependencies between different domains like top, STA, block PnR. Lead and resolve design and flow issues related to physical design, identify potential solutions and drive execution.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Engineering or Computer Science required.
• Experience or coursework in one or more of the following areas: physical design, synthesis, DFT or clocking.
• Experience or coursework with digital logic design, RTL, CMOS transistor logics or VLSI concepts.
• Experience with scripting languages such as TCL, Python, Perl or shell scripting.

Preferred Qualifications

• We value ability in all aspects of ASIC implementation including synthesis, DFT insertion, floorplanning, clock and power distribution, place and route and all aspects of timing, electrical and physical signoff.
• Experience working with EDA tools and exposure to their APIs.
• Use design knowledge and innovative physical construction and optimization flows to push performance, power, and area (PPA) of GPU designs.
• Knowledge of multi‑voltage, power‑gated, and power‑retention concepts will be an advantage.
• Practical knowledge with hierarchical design approach, top‑down design, budgeting, timing, and physical convergence will be an asset.

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Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.