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Senior Software R&D Engineer, VLSI Physical Design

US, CA, Santa Clara💼 Full-time💰 $168,000–$168,000🗓 2026-07-22 → 2026-09-25

Core

Developing high-performance VLSI physical design algorithms and optimization engines to improve chip frequency, minimize power, and reduce area for NVIDIA's AI hardware.

Role type

Senior R&D Software Engineer (VLSI Physical Design Algorithms)

Builds

Internal EDA tools for VLSI design optimization (sizing, buffering, CTS, legalization, routing, parasitic extraction)

Domain

Semiconductor / VLSI Physical Design / EDA

Deliverable

production ML models | product features

Required skills

C++ (14+), VLSI timing optimization, cell libraries, interconnect models, crosstalk, IR drop, congestion, Perl, Tcl, Python, multithreading, distributed computing

Preferred skills

Reinforcement learning, Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), high-performance software design, co-optimization of physical design steps

Technologies

ICC2, Innovus, PrimeTime, Tempus, StarRC

Responsibilities

Invent new optimization engines fusing independent VLSI steps; Improve algorithms for gate-level sizing, buffering, clock skew, cell legalization, power minimization, ECO routing, and parasitic extraction; Collaborate with design teams to deploy solutions

Seniority

Senior, hands-on IC

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