Principal Engineer - Layout

FHLB Des Moines; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Microchip Technology Inc. is seeking a Principal Engineer – Layout to lead automated place-and-route from floorplanning to GDSII tapeout. You will apply advanced physical design methods and automation to boost productivity and optimize flows.

You will work with multidisciplinary teams to tackle challenging design issues, ensure design signoff, and support successful tapeouts while upholding the company’s values and strive for engineering excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in automated place and route and physical design.
• Strong scripting and automation skills using Tcl (preferred), Perl, Python, and shell scripting.
• Experience developing automation solutions for timing and design closure, data extraction and analysis, QoR monitoring, ECO automation, and physical verification analysis.
• Extensive experience with physical design activities including floorplanning and partitioning, power planning and power integrity, placement and routing optimization, Clock Tree Synthesis (CTS), timing closure, signal integrity analysis, physical verification, ECO implementation, and design signoff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute automated place-and-route activities from floorplanning through GDSII tapeout.
• Leverage advanced physical design expertise and automation to drive productivity and improve flows.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to solve complex physical design challenges and support tapeout requirements.

Skills

Tcl scripting

Python scripting

Perl scripting

Automation

Physical design

Floorplanning

Place & route

CTS timing

QoR monitoring

Design signoff

Tools

Industry-standard PD tools

Job description

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to be a part of something great? Want to join a 17,000-member team that works on the technology that powers the world around us? Looking for an atmosphere of trust, empowerment, respect, diversity, and communication? How about an opportunity to own a piece of a multi‑billion dollar (with a B!) global organization? We offer all that and more at Microchip Technology Inc. People come to work at Microchip because we help design the technology that runs the world. They stay because our culture supports their growth and stability. They are challenged and driven by an incredible array of products and solutions with unlimited career potential. Microchip’s nationally‑recognised Leadership Passage Programs support career growth where we proudly enroll over a thousand people annually. We take pride in our commitment to employee development, values‑based decision making, and strong sense of community, driven by our Vision, Mission, and 11 Guiding Values; we affectionately refer to it as the Aggregate System and it’s won us countless awards for diversity and workplace excellence. Our company is built by dedicated team players who love to challenge the status quo; we did not achieve record revenue and over 30 years of quarterly profitability without a great team dedicated to empowering innovation. People like you. Visit our careers page to see what exciting opportunities and company perks await!

Job Description

As a member of Microchip’s engineering community, the Principal Engineer – Layout will be responsible for leading and executing automated place-and-route activities from floorplanning through GDSII tapeout. This role will leverage advanced physical design expertise and automation capabilities to drive productivity improvements, optimize design flows, and develop physical design methodologies. The Principal Engineer will work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to solve complex physical design challenges, improve design quality and efficiency, and support successful project execution through design signoff and tapeout.

Requirements / Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in automated place and route and physical design, with strong experience using industry-standard physical design tools and methodologies.
• Strong scripting and automation skills using Tcl (preferred), Perl, Python, and shell scripting, with demonstrated experience developing custom physical design utilities and methodology enhancements to improve efficiency and productivity.
• Experience developing automation solutions for timing and design closure, data extraction and analysis, QoR monitoring, ECO automation, and physical verification analysis.
• Extensive experience with physical design activities including floorplanning and partitioning, power planning and power integrity, placement and routing optimization, Clock Tree Synthesis (CTS), timing closure, signal integrity analysis, physical verification, ECO implementation, and design signoff, including LEC/CLP checks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify opportunities for flow optimization and methodology improvements.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate across engineering teams.
• Self‑motivated and proactive team player with the ability to work independently, manage priorities, and deliver results in accordance with project schedules and tapeout requirements.

U.S. Export Controls Requirements: This job requires access to technology, materials, software or hardware that is controlled by the export laws of the United States. Candidates are required to provide proof of either US citizenship, Permanent US residency or classification as a protected individual as defined in 8 USC 1324b (a) (3).

Travel Time: 0% - 25%

Physical Attributes: Hearing, Other, Seeing, Talking, Works Alone, Works Around Others

Physical Requirements: 100% inside, 80% sitting, 10% standing, 10% walking.

Microchip Technology Inc is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Poster.

At Microchip, employees are our greatest strength. As one of the top performing semiconductor companies in the world, we are led by a set of guiding values and a mission to empower innovation to enhance the human experience. We work tirelessly to create a company culture that highlights how important every employee is to our mission.