Physical Design Lead, ASIC

Google LLC; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 192,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Google LLC in Sunnyvale, CA is seeking an experienced hardware design senior to shape the future of AI/ML hardware acceleration. You’ll drive TPU technology, developing custom silicon that powers Google's demanding AI/ML workloads, with a focus on verification of complex digital designs and integration within AI/ML systems.

You will empower Google and customers with breakthrough silicon leadership at scale, shaping hyperscale computing across TPUs and related platforms, with a strong emphasis on

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in EE/CE/CS or equivalent; 10 years in physical design.
• Experience hardening dense compute units into high-frequency macros.
• Knowledge of sub-7nm FinFET and GAA architectures and datapath density.

Responsibilities

• Own critical datapath and MAC blocks from RTL to GDSII, including PNR.
• Perform feasibility studies for PPA tradeoffs and timing closure.
• Develop physical design methodologies for dense blocks and metal-fill impact.
• Lead a small team, provide technical guidance, and ensure on-schedule delivery.
• Collaborate on TPU architecture integration within AI/ML systems.

Skills

Physical design

Datapath design

RTL to GDSII

Synthesis & PnR

Power/Performance optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/CE/CS or equivalent

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Tools

Synthesis tools (e.g., Fusion Compiler)

Place & Route tools (Innovus/Genus)

Timing analysis (PrimeTime)

DRC/LVS tools (Calibre)

Job description

corporate_fare Google place Sunnyvale, CA, USA

X In most instances, this position requires in-person interviews as part of the hiring process.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  
• 10 years of experience in physical design, including custom structured datapath implementation.
• Experience hardening dense compute units (such as dot-product engines, multiplier-accumulator (MACs), multipliers, or arithmetic logic unit (ALUs) into high-frequency, low-power macros.
• Experience in sub-7nm process nodes (including FinFET and Gate-All-Around architectures), managing the physical density and routing congestion typical of custom datapaths.

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science, with focus on computer architecture.
• Experience in structured placement methodologies (e.g., relative placement, data-flow driven layout, and customized power-grid stitching for dense blocks).
• Experience with tools for logic synthesis, place and route, timing analysis, and design checks for physical and electrical quality; familiarity with tools for schematics, layout, and circuit/logic simulation.
• Experience with physical design and timing, with managing PT-to-PnR timing correlations and metal-fill impacts on dense structures.
• Expert-level scripting versatility (Tcl, Python, Perl) to build layout automation and structural constraints within standard EDA tools.

About the job

In this role, you’ll work to shape the future of AI/ML hardware acceleration. You will have an opportunity to drive cutting-edge TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) technology that powers Google's most demanding AI/ML applications. You’ll be part of a team that pushes boundaries, developing custom silicon solutions that power the future of Google's TPU. You'll contribute to the innovation behind products loved by millions worldwide, and leverage your design and verification expertise to verify complex digital designs, with a specific focus on TPU architecture and its integration within AI/ML-driven systems.

In this role, you will be empowering Google and our customers with breakthrough capabilities by delivering transformational, co-optimized silicon and technology leadership at scale.

The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.

We're the driving team behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

About the job

In this role, you’ll work to shape the future of AI/ML hardware acceleration. You will have an opportunity to drive cutting-edge TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) technology that powers Google's most demanding AI/ML applications. You’ll be part of a team that pushes boundaries, developing custom silicon solutions that power the future of Google's TPU. You'll contribute to the innovation behind products loved by millions worldwide, and leverage your design and verification expertise to verify complex digital designs, with a specific focus on TPU architecture and its integration within AI/ML-driven systems.

In this role, you will be empowering Google and our customers with breakthrough capabilities by delivering transformational, co-optimized silicon and technology leadership at scale.

The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide.

We're the driving team behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more.

Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
US: $192000 - $278000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

• Own critical custom datapath and matrix multiplication accumulator blocks, driving execution from RTL-to-GDSII including synthesis, floor-planning, place and route (PNR), timing closure, and physical signoff.
• Understand math-intensive micro-architecture to perform detailed feasibility studies, analyzing performance, power, and area (PPA) tradeoffs to achieve optimal design closure.
• Develop and improve advanced physical design methodologies and customize implementation recipes, specifically optimizing PPA across complex arithmetic pipeline structures. Manage different PNR tools - synopsys fusion compiler, cadence (Innovus/Genus), PrimeTime, StarRC, Calibre, Apache Redhawk.
• Implement and execute key design phases: floor-planning, synthesis, placement, clock tree synthesis (CTS), timing closure, routing, extraction, physical verification (design rule checking (DRC)/layout versus schematic (LVS), electromigration (EM)/IR, and final signoff.
• Lead sub-chip execution and drive delivery, providing direct technical guidance and mentorship to a small team of engineers to ensure on-schedule project completion.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to building a workforce that is representative of the users we serve, creating a culture of belonging, and providing an equal employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), expecting or parents-to-be, criminal histories consistent with legal requirements, or any other basis protected by law. See also Google's EEO Policy , Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal , Belonging at Google , and How we hire .

Google is a global company and, in order to facilitate efficient collaboration and communication globally, English proficiency is a requirement for all roles unless stated otherwise in the job posting.

Equity is granted exclusively and discretionarily by Alphabet Inc. on the basis of an agreement concluded between you and Alphabet Inc. Alphabet Inc. is your sole contractual partner with respect to equity grants. GSU grants are not guaranteed, are discretionary, the terms of the relevant Alphabet Inc. stock plan, and your grant agreement. They have no impact on statutory payments. Current or past grants do not confer an acquired right.