Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer

Apple; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 297,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer to join their innovative team in Silicon Technologies. This role involves creating elegant solutions for complex challenges in designing next-generation, high-performance processors and SoCs. You will collaborate with design teams and tool vendors to enhance power, performance, and area, while developing cutting-edge tools and methodologies. This is a unique opportunity to impact a wide range of products that millions love, all while working in a dynamic and inclusive environment that values your contributions and growth.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical and dental coverage

Retirement benefits

Discounted products and free services

Educational reimbursement

Employee stock purchase plan

Discretionary bonuses

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in CAD flow or PD methodology.
• Proficiency in Tcl, Python, or Perl scripting languages.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to tackle physical design challenges.
• Develop custom CAD tools and methodologies for implementation.

Skills

Tcl

Python

Perl

Physical Design Methodology

CAD algorithms

Machine Learning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PNR tools

Job description

Physical Design Methodology CAD Engineer

San Diego, California, United States Hardware

Summary

Posted: Feb 26, 2025

Role Number: 200593020

Do you love creating elegant solutions to highly complex challenges? Do you intrinsically see the importance in every detail? As part of our Silicon Technologies group, you’ll help design and manufacture our next-generation, high-performance, power-efficient processor, system-on-chip (SoC). You’ll ensure Apple products and services can seamlessly and efficiently handle the tasks that make them beloved by millions. Joining this group means you’ll be responsible for crafting and building the technology that fuels Apple’s devices. Together, you and your team will enable our customers to do all the things they love with their devices. As part of the Hardware Technology CAD team, you’ll help design our next-generation, high-performance, power-efficient SoCs. You will work on world class CPU, GPU, Analog/Mixed Signal and SOC designs by developing flows, tools and methodologies for future Apple products! You will explore and enable new technology nodes, stdcells and tools for design teams. You will collaborate with design teams and tool vendors to improve PPA (Power, Performance, Area) and design productivity. You will actively work on developing internal methodologies using your understanding of CAD algorithms and ML. We are looking for passionate engineers to join our team. In this role, you will be impacting a wide range of chips used across Apple’s world-class products!

Description

1. Participating and leading cross functional teams to solve key physical design challenges.
2. Developing innovative solutions in physical design and optimization space.
3. Developing and supporting implementation flows for multiple projects and design teams.
4. Developing and maintaining custom CAD tools for implementation and signoff.
5. Creating flows to enable successful deployment of new technology nodes.
6. Developing tools and methodologies for best-in-class PPA and productivity including ML based solutions.
7. Collaborating with other disciplines such as physical design verification, RC extraction, IR and static timing analysis (STA).
8. Driving EDA tool vendor interactions, to resolve tool issues and identify areas for tool improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum requirement of BS + 10 years of relevant industry experience
• Proficiency with Tcl, Python or Perl scripting languages.
• Experience in CAD flow or PD methodology development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to coordinate and drive initiatives with little to no oversight
• Hands on knowledge of industry standard PNR tools.
• Expertise in analysis aspects of Physical Design - extraction, timing, noise, physical verification, EMIR.
• Hands on experience with high performance and low power implementation flows.

Pay & Benefits

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $166,600 and $296,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

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.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure 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.