Principal CPU Physical Design Engineer (San Diego, CA)
qualcommAbout the role
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > CPU EngineeringGeneral Summary:
Drive the Silicon That Powers the Next Generation of Computing
We’re looking for a CPU Physical Design expert to push the limits of performance, power efficiency, and scalability in next-generation CPU designs. In this role, you will work on industry-leading CPU cores at advanced nodes, solving some of the most challenging problems in modern semiconductor design. This is a high-impact role with broad visibility—where your contributions directly influence architecture trade-offs, implementation strategies, and silicon success.
What You’ll Do
Own critical portions of CPU implementation from RTL to GDS, with a focus on PPA convergence and design quality
Drive timing, power, and area optimization for high-frequency, complex CPU subsystems
Partner with Architecture, RTL, and Circuit teams to co-optimize design for physical implementation
Solve hard silicon problems: timing closure, congestion, variability, EM/IR, and power integrity
Develop and deploy methodologies, flows, and automation to improve scalability and QoR across projects
Influence and collaborate with EDA vendors and CAD teams to push tool capabilities
Contribute to next-gen design strategies for advanced nodes
Mentor junior engineers and help raise the technical bar of the team
Required skill/experience
10+ years of experience in ASIC/SoC Physical Design
Strong experience with full RTL-to-GDSII implementation (synthesis, place & route, STA, signoff)
Experience in timing closure and power optimization
Scripting skills (TCL, Python, or similar)
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working on CPU cores or other high-performance designs
Expertise in advanced nodes (7nm, 5nm, 3nm or below)
Strong understanding of PPA trade-offs and CPU-specific design challenges
Hands-on experience with industry-standard tools (Synopsys/Cadence)
Experience developing or influencing design methodologies
Strong data-driven debug and analytical skills
Why You’ll Love This Role
Work on cutting-edge CPU architectures used in millions of devices worldwide
Solve deep technical challenges at advanced nodes
Have real influence across architecture and silicon implementation
Collaborate with top-tier engineers across disciplines
Grow into technical leadership roles (Staff / Sr Staff / Principal)
Be part of a high-impact team in San Diego
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 8+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.OR
Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 7+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Hardware Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
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