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Physical Design Engineer - Full Chip Implementation

Etched· ASIC
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San Jose$200k - $375kFull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Etched is building frontier AI hardware focused on inference. The role covers full-chip physical design implementation, including floorplanning, P&R, clocking, timing analysis, PV, and sign-off from synthesis to GDSII, with emphasis on aggressive PPA optimization and rapid iteration with RTL.

Responsibilities

  • Own full-chip clocking across all PVT corners and modes.
  • Manage MMMC timing closure at the top level.
  • Own timing constraints and hierarchical timing budgeting between top level and blocks.
  • Drive functional and timing ECO closure and achieve final timing signoff for tapeout.
  • Own end-to-end physical verification closure at block, sub-system, and full-chip level across DRC, LVS, ERC, antenna, density, fill, and top-level integration.
  • Debug complex PV violations across layout, routing, macros, IP, power grid, rule decks, and tool or setup issues, and fix violations directly in layout using Innovus.
  • Build a repeatable, tapeout-ready PV methodology with clean runs, waiver discipline, version control, triage, and final signoff reviews.

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of previous experience with chip planning, top level PD, floorplanning
  • Experience with top-level and full-chip closure on advanced process nodes (5nm and below)
  • Experience with Cadence (Innovus, Genus) or Synopsys (Fusion Compiler) automated RTL-to-GDSII flows
  • Experience with Synopsys PrimeTime and Cadence Tempus for timing signoff
  • Experience with Pegasus or Calibre for physical verification signoff
  • Experience with hierarchical timing budgeting, constraint management, and ECO closure
  • Experience with Cadence Innovus for top-level assembly, routing, and layout fixes
  • Deeply creative and able to think from first principles

Skills

Required:Full-chip physical designClocking and timing

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage
  • $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits
  • Housing subsidy of $2.5k per month for those living within walking distance of the office
  • Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)
  • Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
  • Daily lunch and dinner in our office
  • Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification
Last updated Oct 15, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Etched

Etched is building frontier inference clusters: co-designs chips, racks, software and manufacturing to push the pareto frontier for AI hardware.

frontier inference clustersAI hardwarechipsrackssoftwaremanufacturingparto frontier
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