Principal Physical Design Engineer (AI Hardware)

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco, Houston, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Berkeley, or remote in the U.S.; Munich, Germany is also listed.

Salary: $250,000–$400,000 annually, with compensation varying by experience, expertise, and location.

Company

hirify.global is partnering with a well-funded, early-stage AI hardware startup building a next-generation inference platform that combines custom silicon with integrated software and systems engineering.

What you will do

• Own the physical design flow for major SoC blocks from floorplanning through final signoff.
• Drive place and route, clock tree synthesis, timing closure, power optimization, and physical verification.
• Develop and apply AI-assisted implementation methodologies to improve productivity and accelerate tapeout schedules.
• Partner with architecture, RTL, verification, and software teams to optimize performance, power, and area.
• Collaborate with EDA vendors and foundry partners to resolve implementation challenges and deliver production-ready silicon.

Requirements

• 8+ years of physical-design experience for complex, high-performance ASICs.
• Experience with advanced process nodes at 7nm or below.
• Deep expertise in synthesis, place and route, CTS, timing closure, physical verification, and signoff.
• Hands-on experience with Cadence Innovus, Synopsys Fusion Compiler, or comparable implementation platforms.
• Experience with PrimeTime, Tempus, or equivalent signoff tools.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with architects, RTL engineers, EDA vendors, and foundries.

Nice to have

• Experience with 2.5D/3D packaging, CoWoS, IR/EM analysis, thermal optimization, signal integrity, or DFT-aware implementation.

Culture & Benefits

• Work with an engineering team experienced in semiconductor and AI companies.
• Help shape first-generation accelerator silicon and future product generations.
• Meaningful equity participation.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) and generous paid time off.