Senior Principal Engineer, Physical Designer (ASIC)

Location: Santa Clara, CA, United States

Expected base pay: $177,820–$266,400 per annum

Company

hirify.global develops semiconductor solutions and custom Processor/ASIC products for enterprise, cloud, AI, server, and networking infrastructure.

What you will do

• Shape the long-term vision for physical design capabilities, infrastructure, methodologies, flows, and automation.
• Lead RTL-to-GDSII implementation for multiple SoC programs, including synthesis, floorplanning, power grid design, place and route, clock tree synthesis, timing closure, power and signal integrity signoff, and DRC/LVS verification.
• Provide technical direction for physical design teams and deliver complex, high-performance SoC tapeouts on schedule.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with design teams, influence design decisions, and resolve conflicts.
• Build and retain a high-performing organization through team structure, hiring, performance management, mentoring, and career development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with 15+ years of related experience; or a Master’s degree with 10–12 years; or a PhD with 8–10 years; equivalent professional experience may substitute for a degree.
• 15+ years of progressive back-end physical design and verification experience, including significant leadership responsibilities.
• Experience leading and scaling physical design teams, managing complex SoC projects, and delivering high-quality tapeouts under aggressive schedules.
• Deep expertise in hierarchical physical design strategies, methodologies, and advanced process node challenges.
• In-depth understanding of current design technologies used in major foundries and modern EDA tools and flows.
• Strong understanding of ASIC design flow, RTL integration, synthesis, and timing closure.
• Automation and scripting proficiency with Makefile, Tcl, Python, or Perl.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to influence cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders.
• Experience developing and deploying advanced physical design methodologies and flows.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of static timing analysis tools such as PrimeTime and Tempus; EM/IR-drop and crosstalk analysis tools such as PTSI, Voltus, RedHawk, and PrimeRail; extraction tools such as Quantus and StarRC; and formal or physical verification tools such as Formality, Verplex, Calibre, and Hercules.
• Familiarity with AI/ML-driven optimization in physical design tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with bonus and equity plan eligibility, including a new-hire equity grant and annual equity refreshers.
• Benefits support financial well-being, family support, mental and physical health, and recognition.
• Benefits include an employee stock purchase plan with a two-year lookback, family support programs, mental health resources, and recognition and service awards.
• Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during selection may contact the hirify.global HR Helpdesk.
• Access to export-controlled technology may require U.S. export license review; applicants must be eligible to access such information under applicable law.
• AI tools, transcription apps, real-time answer generators, and automated note-taking bots are prohibited during interviews; unauthorized use results in disqualification.