Tapeout Support Engineer

imec; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

IC-Link by imec helps customers design chips and bring them through prototyping and volume production at leading semiconductor foundries. Reporting to the US Tape-Out Support Team Leader, you will act as a primary technical liaison between customers and semiconductor foundries, guiding designs through tape-out and final sign-off, and coordinating issues across teams.

This role emphasizes hands-on tape-out expertise for advanced TSMC process nodes, customer orientation, and strong project

Qualifications

• Hands-on semiconductor tape-out experience with advanced process nodes (TSMC/FinFET).
• Experience working with customers and external partners, clear English communication.
• Comfortable in a Linux environment and able to work across cross-functional teams.
• Experience with scripting or workflow automation is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical discussions with customers through tape-out and sign-off, providing required information and guidance.
• Prepare and validate customer designs for fabrication and support final sign-off using EDA tools.
• Collaborate with engineering, design, and layout teams to ensure compliance with foundry requirements.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for customers before, during, and after tape-out; resolve questions and keep projects on track.
• Maintain close communication with foundry representatives to align on specs, schedules, and issues.
• Advocate for customer and imec tape-out priorities in interactions with foundry partners.
• Provide technical input to sales for project scoping and proposals.
• Coordinate with managers to track progress and ensure timely delivery of milestones.
• Document customer interactions, technical specs, decisions, and project status.
• Identify and implement process improvements to reduce errors and improve coordination.

Skills

Tape-out experience

Customer engagement

Linux

Scripting

Tools

EDA tools

Job description

Help IC-Link by imec customers move advanced semiconductor designs from final sign-off to fabrication by serving as the technical bridge between customer design teams and leading foundries.

About the role

IC-Link by imec helps customers design chips and bring them through prototyping and volume production at leading semiconductor foundries. As a qualified TSMC VCA partner, imec provides customers with access to advanced fabrication technologies together with specialized technical support across the chip-design and manufacturing lifecycle.

Reporting to the US Tape-Out Support Team Leader, you will act as a primary technical liaison between customers and semiconductor foundries. You will guide customer designs through tape-out and final sign-off, help ensure foundry requirements are met, and coordinate technical issues and milestones across customers, internal teams, and manufacturing partners.

This role is especially focused on advanced TSMC process nodes and requires a combination of hands‑on tape‑out expertise, customer orientation, technical judgment, and strong project coordination.

What you will do

• Lead technical discussions with customers throughout the tape-out and sign-off process, providing the required foundry information, documentation, and guidance.
• Prepare and validate customer designs for fabrication and support final sign-off activities using advanced EDA tools.
• Work closely with engineering, design, and layout teams to identify issues and help ensure designs comply with foundry manufacturing requirements.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for customers before, during, and after tape-out, helping resolve questions and maintain a smooth path from design completion to fabrication.
• Maintain close communication with foundry representatives to align on technical specifications, process requirements, schedules, and open issues.
• Advocate for customer and imec tape-out priorities with foundry partners and support persuasive technical requests when exceptions, clarifications, or schedule considerations are needed.
• Provide technical input to the sales and business development teams for customer discussions, project scoping, and proposals.
• Coordinate with managers and other stakeholders to track project progress, manage priorities, and support timely delivery of key milestones.
• Maintain accurate records of customer interactions, technical specifications, decisions, and project status to support transparency and accountability.
• Identify and implement process improvements and automation opportunities that reduce errors, improve customer service, and strengthen coordination across teams.

Who you are

• You have hands‑on semiconductor tape‑out experience using advanced TSMC technology nodes, including FinFET processes, and you understand the associated back‑end process steps.
• You have experience working directly with customers, foundries, suppliers, or other external technical partners and can communicate clearly and professionally in English.
• You are client‑oriented, proactive, punctual, and comfortable taking ownership while working collaboratively within a team.
• You can assess technical and project issues, recognize priorities, and respond flexibly and effectively when problems arise.
• You are comfortable working in a Linux environment.
• Experience with scripting, programming, or workflow automation is a plus.

What we do for you

At imec, you will work in an international and multidisciplinary environment at the forefront of semiconductor innovation. You will collaborate with customers, foundry partners, and technical experts across imec while contributing directly to complex ASIC programs and advanced manufacturing technologies.

We offer an environment with room to take initiative, grow your technical and professional expertise, and build relationships across imec's global organization and the broader semiconductor ecosystem.

We offer an attractive compensation and benefits package designed to recognize your skills, experience, and contributions.