CPU Physical Design CAD Engineer

Job Posting Date

2025-09-02

Job Area:

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Hardware Engineering

General Summary:

As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives digital transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm Hardware Engineer, you will plan, design, optimize, verify, and test electronic systems, bring-up yield, circuits, mechanical systems, Digital/Analog/RF/optical systems, equipment and packaging, test systems, FPGA, and/or DSP systems that launch cutting-edge, world class products. Qualcomm Hardware Engineers collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop solutions and meet performance requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field and 6+ years of Hardware Engineering or related work experience.

OR

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field and 5+ years of Hardware Engineering or related work experience.

OR

• PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field and 4+ years of Hardware Engineering or related work experience.

As CPU Physical Design CAD engineer, you will build and support the world’s best implementation tools and flows. Your tools and flows will ensure our custom CPUs have industry-leading power, performance and area.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate and release new features in our high-performance place-and-route CAD flow
• Architect and recommend methodology improvements to ensure our silicon has the best power, performance and area
• Maintain, support and debug implementation flows, and resolve project-specific issues
• Work closely with worldwide CPU physical design teams, and provide methodology guidance, tools/flows support and help achieve class-leading PPA.
• Work with EDA vendors to define roadmap and to resolve tool issues

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelors/Masters degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering or Computer Science
• 12+ years of hands-on experience in place-and-route of high-performance chips - either in a design or CAD role
• High level of proficiency in Tcl as well as Python
• Experience with automation
• Experience with a wide variety of Physical Design tasks - ranging all the way from place-and-route, analysis, timing sign-off and PDV
• Experience with advanced technology nodes (5nm or lower)
• Solid understanding of digital design, timing analysis and physical verification
• Strong user of industry-standard place-and-route tools such as Cadence Innovus
• Proven track record of managing and regressing place-and-route flows

Applicants: 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).

Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.

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If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.

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Perks and Benefits

Health

Qualcomm offers a world-class health benefit option providing world-class coverage to employees and their eligible dependents.

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Qualcomm’s wellbeing programs and resources offer support to help employees Live+Well and Work+Well, so they can unlock their full potential at home, at work, and everywhere between.

Unlock Your Limitless Potential with Qualcomm

Whether you’re launching a new career or ready to explore what’s next in the evolution of your talent and expertise, you’re about to embark on a career growth journey like no other.

Bring out your best, with the best

Our employees make Qualcomm’s success possible. We hire the brightest minds and foster a supportive, inclusive culture where your ideas have the power to contribute to world-changing innovations and breakthrough technologies. To make that possible, we leverage the breadth and depth of our diverse expertise from around the world to answer the unasked, conquer the complex, and solve some of the biggest challenges only we can – together.

Innovate with technology experts

At Qualcomm, we are passionate about the limitless potential of your career. Only here can you work alongside some of the most respected, leading engineering and technology experts in the industry – helping you learn and grow professionally in ways you haven’t yet imagined.

Live well, work well

Additionally, you’ll have access to programs such as our continuous learning and development programs, tuition reimbursement, and mentorships to tap into your limitless potential – plus, opportunities to enhance your quality of life through our comprehensive, best-in-class benefits offerings.

The work we do at Qualcomm impacts lives around the globe – and you can be part of it. Apply today and unlock your full potential.