SoC Physical Design Engineer, Top Level

Apple Inc.; Seattle, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 309,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Seattle seeks a senior chip design lead responsible for implementing complete chip design from netlist to tapeout. You will work with FE and physical design teams to drive architecture, timing, and physical convergence, across multi-domain environments.

The role requires a BS with 10+ years in ASIC/SoC design, familiarity with floorplanning, clock/power distribution, and IP integration, and you will influence layout decisions and verification flows. Base salary range shown applies.

Qualifications

• BS degree plus 10+ years in chip/ASIC design.
• Experience with floorplanning, clock and power distribution, IP integration.

Responsibilities

• Work with FE to understand chip architecture and drive physical design.
• Drive place and route and track milestones across domains.
• Resolve design and flow issues related to physical design.

Skills

ASIC integration

Floorplanning

Clock distribution

Power distribution

Global signal planning

I/O planning

Hard IP integration

SoC issues

Multiple voltage domains

Clock domains

ESD strategies

Mixed-signal integration

Package interactions

Hierarchical design

Top-down design

Budgeting

Timing

Physical convergence

IP requirements

P&R flows

Global timing verification

Physical design verification

Design for Yield

Manufacturability

Multi Vt strategies

Thermal management

CAD tools

Education

Bachelor of Science in a relevant field

Tools

Floorplanning tools

P&R flows

Global timing verification

Physical design verification

Job description

Seattle, Washington, United States Hardware

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, hardworking people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product!In this highly visible role, you will be responsible for implementing complete chip design from netlist to tapeout.

Description

• Work with the FE team to understand chip architecture and drive physical aspects early in the design cycle.
• Work with the physical design team to drive methodologies and “best known methods” to streamline physical design work, come up with guidelines and checklists, drive execution, and track progress.
• Be a focal point for place and route, drive the work among place and route engineers, set goals and milestones, plan short and long-term work, understand dependencies between different domains like top, STA, block place and route.
• Resolve design and flow issues related to physical design, identify potential solutions, and drive execution.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum BS and 10+ years of relevant industry experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Needs to be familiar with aspects of ASIC integration including floorplanning, clock and power distribution, global signal planning, I/O planning, and hard IP integration.
• Experience with typical SoC issues such as multiple voltage and clock domains, ESD strategies, mixed signal block integration, and package interactions.
• Familiar with a hierarchical design approach, top-down design, budgeting, timing and physical convergence.
• Experience integrating IP from both internal and external vendors and be able to specify and drive IP requirements in the physical domain is required.
• Experience with large SoC designs (>20M gates) with frequencies in excess of 1GHz using innovative sub 45nm technologies.
• A detailed understanding of database management issues is required.
• From a CAD tool perspective, experience with floorplanning tools, P&R flows, global timing verification and physical design verification flows is required.
• Familiar with various process-related design issues including Design for Yield and Manufacturability, multi Vt strategies and thermal Mgt.

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 $175,000 and $308,500, 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 seek to promote 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. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant

At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.

Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplace Learn about reasonable accommodations for job applicants

Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.