IC PDK Development Engineer

Location: London, UK; work is based around the Islington laboratory.

Company

hirify.global is a London-based quantum computing start-up developing silicon-chip quantum processors for applications including materials modelling, medicine, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.

What you will do

• Architect, build, and maintain custom process design kits and physical verification enablements.
• Develop PDK components including schematic symbols, SKILL PCells, and custom DRC and LVS decks.
• Develop, qualify, and maintain Calibre SVRF rule decks for non-standard and cryogenic CMOS layout constraints.
• Integrate foundry PDKs into Cadence Virtuoso, including library extensions, layer maps, and device callbacks.
• Collaborate with IC designers and layout engineers on physical verification and layout automation practices.
• Document work for peer review and evaluate layout and enablement work from other team members.

Requirements

• Degree in Electronic Engineering, IC Layout, Computer Science, or a related physical science or engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of hands-on industry experience in IC PDK development and PDK enablement flow management.
• Proficiency in Cadence SKILL PCell coding and Virtuoso PDK customization.
• Proficiency with Siemens Calibre physical verification tools and SVRF rule writing for DRC and LVS decks.
• Experience debugging complex DRC and LVS errors in analog, mixed-signal, or custom digital layout environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, self-management, and peer-review skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with advanced deep-submicron CMOS nodes, including 40nm, 28nm, or below, and layout-dependent effects.
• Expertise in Cadence Virtuoso, SKILL/SKILL++, and Siemens Calibre.
• Familiarity with MOSFET device modelling integration such as BSIM or Verilog-A, or cryogenic device enablement.
• Awareness of semiconductor quantum dots or silicon spin-qubit fundamentals.

Culture & Benefits

• Interdisciplinary collaboration across quantum physics, IC design, quantum computing theory, and software engineering.
• Research and development environment focused on scalable silicon-based quantum computers.
• Competitive salary and share options scheme.
• Contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, and life assurance.
• Cycle-to-work scheme and flexible working.