Physical Design Lead – Custom Silicon Management
Core
Lead physical design engagements for custom silicon chips used in Apple mobile products, ensuring vendor flow efficiency and high-quality tapeout.
Role type
Senior IC Physical Design Lead
Builds
Custom silicon chips for iPhone, iPad, iPod, and AppleTV
Domain
Semiconductor / Custom Silicon
Required skills
Physical Design, Digital Design Concepts, Static Timing Analysis, Power and Signal Integrity Analysis, DFM techniques, Physical Verification, CAD tools (Cadence/Synopsys/Mentor/Atoptech), RTL coding, Synthesis methodology, Timing constraints generation, Clock tree synthesis, Floor planning, Power planning, Routing, Analog layout design, Mixed signal SoC tapeout, Low power management, IP extraction and characterization
Preferred skills
Leading physical design teams, Tapeout of complex chips from gates to GDS, Debugging LVS/DRC/Antenna/ERC issues, MCMM timing closure, Noise avoidance techniques, Extraction and characterization of IP elements
Responsibilities
Audit vendor PD flows and methodologies for gaps and set up issues; Suggest improvements to vendor methodology to optimize QoR; Work with internal teams to ensure vendor PD implementation meets design goals; Collaborate with packaging and process specialists to resolve project issues; Conduct periodic design reviews with deep technical dives; Review and sign off on final PD, STA, SI, and Electrical analysis reports for tapeout approval; Provide post-tapeout support for ECOs and debugging; Maintain consistent operational standards across vendors and projects; Manage professional vendor relationships.
Seniority
Senior, hands-on IC