Physical Design CPU Methodology Engineer

Socket.dev; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Tenstorrent is seeking a Physical Design CPU Methodology Engineer to define and drive the implementation methodology, automation strategy, and signoff infrastructure for high-performance CPU cores across advanced process nodes. This role blends deep PD expertise with technical leadership to enable RTL-to-GDS execution and scalable flow adoption.

The position is remote-based out of the United States, with opportunities to influence multiple projects and teams while collaborating with

Qualifications

• 10+ years ASIC/SoC/CPU design experience.
• Deep RTL-to-GDS and signoff expertise.
• Experience creating or owning PD methodologies and CAD flows.
• Proficient in Tcl, Python, Perl scripting.

Responsibilities

• Define and own scalable CPU physical design methodology spanning synthesis, floorplanning, power planning, place and route, CTS, extraction, STA, SI, EM/IR, and physical verification.
• Explore AI/ML-enabled PD tooling, begin synthesis and PnR of CPU partitions, and start developing the new program RM flow.
• Drive automation, constraints, quality metrics, signoff criteria, dashboards, checkers, and debug workflows that improve predictability, turnaround time, and PPA.
• Partner with architecture, RTL, circuit, DFT, CAD, program, data, and EDA vendor teams to enable advanced nodes and productize AI/ML across physical design.

Skills

Physical Design

ASIC/SoC/CPU experience

RTL-to-GDS

Tcl/Python/Perl scripting

Technical leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

CAD tools

EDA flows

Job description

Tenstorrent is leading the industry on cutting-edge AI technology, revolutionizing performance expectations, ease of use, and cost efficiency. With AI redefining the computing paradigm, solutions must evolve to unify innovations in software models, compilers, platforms, networking, and semiconductors. Our diverse team of technologists have developed a high performance RISC-V CPU from scratch, and share a passion for AI and a deep desire to build the best AI platform possible. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to solving hard problems. We are growing our team and looking for contributors of all seniorities.

Tenstorrent is looking for a Physical Design CPU Methodology Engineer who defines and drives the implementation methodology, automation strategy, and signoff infrastructure for high-performance CPU cores across advanced process nodes. This role combines deep physical design expertise with organization-level technical leadership, enabling predictable RTL-to-GDS execution, strong PPA outcomes, and scalable methodology adoption across multiple projects and teams.

This role is remote based out of the United States.

We welcome candidates at various experience levels for this role. During the interview process, candidates will be assessed for the appropriate level, and offers will align with that level, which may differ from the one in this posting.

Who you are

• You are an experienced Physical Design Engineer with 10+ years of ASIC/SoC/CPU experience, ideally focused on high-performance CPUs or similarly complex digital designs.
• You bring deep expertise across RTL-to-GDS implementation and signoff, including timing closure, power optimization, SI, EM/IR, extraction, and physical verification.
• You have built or owned physical design methodology, automation, or CAD flows and are highly skilled in Tcl, Python, Perl, or similar scripting languages.
• You are a technical leader who can influence across teams, mentor engineers, and drive standards across geographically distributed organizations.

What we need

• Define and own scalable CPU physical design methodology spanning synthesis, floorplanning, power planning, place and route, CTS, extraction, STA, SI, EM/IR, and physical verification.
• Explore AI/ML-enabled PD tooling, begin synthesis and PnR of CPU partitions, and start developing the new program RM flow.
• Drive automation, constraints, quality metrics, signoff criteria, dashboards, checkers, and debug workflows that improve predictability, turnaround time, and PPA.
• Partner with architecture, RTL, circuit, DFT, CAD, program, data, and EDA vendor teams to enable advanced nodes and productize AI/ML across physical design.

What you will learn

• How to apply AI/ML to physical design for hotspot prediction, congestion forecasting, timing-risk classification, ECO prioritization, IR-drop screening, and flow tuning.
• How to build reliable, explainable, production-ready data infrastructure, including feature collection, validation, and signoff integration.
• How to evaluate AI-enabled EDA capabilities and determine where data-driven optimization delivers measurable value over conventional heuristics.
• How to scale CPU methodology, automation, and AI/ML deployment across advanced-node programs, foundries, teams, and the broader organization.

Compensation for all engineers at Tenstorrent ranges from $100k - $500k including base and variable compensation targets. Experience, skills, education, background and location all impact the actual offer made.

Tenstorrent offers a highly competitive compensation package and benefits, and we are an equal opportunity employer.

This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant being eligible to access U.S. export-controlled technology. Due to U.S. export laws, including those codified in the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Company is required to ensure compliance with these laws when transferring technology to nationals of certain countries (such as EAR Country Groups D:1, E1, and E2). These requirements apply to persons located in the U.S. and all countries outside the U.S. As the position offered will have direct and/or indirect access to information, systems, or technologies subject to these laws, the offer may be contingent upon your citizenship/permanent residency status or ability to obtain prior license approval from the U.S. Commerce Department or applicable federal agency. If employment is not possible due to U.S. export laws, any offer of employment will be rescinded.