Senior Microprocessor VLSI Physical Design Engineer

AMD; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

AMD, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, is seeking an experienced VLSI physical design engineer to lead high-speed design efforts for next-generation cores and caches. The role focuses on collaborating with RTL and physical designers across sites to optimize power, performance, area, and schedule.

The ideal candidate brings strong Verilog RTL comprehension, deep knowledge of VLSI methodologies, and a passion for innovation.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in high-speed VLSI design.
• Excellent understanding of computer architecture, hardware concepts, and design trade-offs.
• Knowledge of chip-level floor planning, bus/pin planning, clock tree synthesis, placement, optimization, routing, parasitic extraction, static timing analysis, IR-drop analysis, electromigration, physical verification, and sign-off.
• Ability to comprehend complex Verilog RTL and make minor modifications for timing or power.
• Knowledge of digital circuits, high-speed flops, synchronizers, level shifters, and SRAM.
• Familiarity with programming languages such as Perl, C, Tcl, etc.
• Experience with a variety of AI agents to increase engineering efficiency and automation.

Responsibilities

• Technical lead for high-speed VLSI design in deep submicron processes.
• Work closely with RTL and physical designers across multiple sites to optimize power, performance, area, and schedule.
• Solve design and tool problems requiring ground-breaking approaches that utilize AI-native skills and champion innovation across the organization.
• Create technical presentations for peers and management.
• Guide and mentor junior engineers.

Skills

High-speed VLSI design

Computer architecture understanding

Design trade-offs

Education

BS/MS in EE, CS, CSE (or similar) preferred

Tools

Perl

C

Tcl

Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next‑generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. Join us as we push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges and shape the future of AI and beyond.

Together, we advance your career.

The Role

AMD’s Cores Organization delivers industry‑leading CPUs and caches that are the foundation of AMD’s server, client, and gaming business. We are looking for an experienced VLSI physical design engineer to join this innovative team as a technical expert. The candidate will be a key contributor and leader for AMD’s next‑generation cores and caches, based in Fort Collins, CO.

The Person

The candidate should have strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills with excellent attention to detail. Work on programs with long timelines demands self‑motivation and a commitment to meeting deadlines. Creativity, innovation, and excellent verbal and written communication are essential. Teamwork is vital, as the team operates across a large cross‑site Core organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical lead for high‑speed VLSI design in deep submicron processes.
• Work closely with RTL and physical designers across multiple sites to optimize power, performance, area, and schedule.
• Solve design and tool problems requiring ground‑breaking approaches that utilize AI‑native skills and champion innovation across the organization.
• Create technical presentations for peers and management.
• Guide and mentor junior engineers.

Preferred Experience

• Hands‑on experience in high‑speed VLSI design.
• Excellent understanding of computer architecture, hardware concepts, and design trade‑offs.
• Knowledge of chip‑level floor planning, bus/pin planning, clock tree synthesis, placement, optimization, routing, parasitic extraction, static timing analysis, IR‑drop analysis, electromigration, physical verification, and sign‑off.
• Ability to comprehend complex Verilog RTL and make minor modifications for timing or power.
• Knowledge of digital circuits, high‑speed flops, synchronizers, level shifters, and SRAM.
• Familiarity with programming languages such as Perl, C, Tcl, etc.
• Experience with a variety of AI agents to increase engineering efficiency and automation.

Academic Credentials

• BS/MS in EE, CS, CSE (or similar) preferred.

Location

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee‑based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal‑opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third‑party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.