Physical Design Engineer

Job Summary

NXP Semiconductors is seeking a Physical Design Engineer (G2) with strong fundamentals in physical design implementation to join our growing VLSI team. In this role, you will contribute to the implementation and signoff of complex SoC/IP blocks in advanced technology nodes, ensuring high-quality delivery aligned with NXP’s stringent PPA (Power, Performance, Area) and reliability standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute block-level physical design from synthesized netlist to GDSII:
  • Floorplanning and power grid design
  • Placement and optimization
  • Clock Tree Synthesis (CTS)
  • Routing and post-route optimization
• Drive timing convergence across MCMM scenarios in collaboration with STA teams
• Ensure design closure including:
  • Setup/hold timing closure
  • DRC/LVS clean signoff
  • IR drop and electromigration (EM) compliance
• Debug and resolve:
  • Congestion issues
  • SI/crosstalk problems
  • Functional and physical ECOs
• Collaborate cross-functionally with:
  • RTL/design teams to improve QoR
  • DFT teams for test readiness
  • Packaging and full-chip integration teams
• Contribute to methodology improvements and automation through scripting
• Follow and enforce NXP design methodologies, quality and reliability standards

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Electronics / Electrical Engineering / Microelectronics
• 3–5 years of experience in ASIC Physical Design
• Strong understanding of:
  • Physical design flow (FP → P&R → Signoff)
  • Static Timing Analysis fundamentals
  • CMOS digital design basics
• Hands-on experience with industry EDA tools:
  • Cadence (Innovus/Genus) or Synopsys (ICC2/Fusion Compiler, PrimeTime)
• Good scripting skills in Tcl, Python, or Shell
• Experience in advanced nodes (16nm and below)

• Knowledge of:
  • Low-power design flows (UPF/CPF)
  • Multi-voltage / multi-domain designs
• Familiarity with physical verification tools (Calibre)