Physical Design Staff Engineer

The Role:

As a Physical Design Staff Engineer, you will serve as the technical reference point for the most complex digital blocks (high-speed, mixed-signal control, or automotive low-power). You will operate at the intersection of logic and physics, ensuring that the functional design intent is preserved and optimized during physical implementation.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Physical Implementation & Constraint Management

· Drive the entire implementation flow (Floorplanning, P&R, Clock Tree Synthesis) with a "constraint-driven" approach.

· Functional Context Analysis: Anticipate routing and timing bottlenecks .

· Dynamic Constraint Management: Analyze, clean, and regenerate timing constraints at every stage (Pre-Placement, Placement, Pre-CTS, Post-CTS, Sign-off), ensuring they reflect both the physical reality of the silicon and the functional requirements (e.g., Multi-Cycle Paths, distinguishing real vs. spurious False Paths).

2. Timing Sign-off & ECO Leadership

· Manage complex timing closures (Multi-clock domains, asynchronous interfaces) using advanced techniques (DMSA, OCV/AOCV/POCV).

· Drive ECO (Engineering Change Order) strategies not just at the gate level, but by proposing changes when the physical impact requires it.

· Oversee Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity analysis.

Requirements (Must Have):

· Experience: 10+ years in the semiconductor industry with a focus on Physical Design and Digital Implementation.

· Constraint Mastery: Expert knowledge of the SDC format and the ability to write and debug complex constraints for multi-mode/multi-corner (MMMC) designs.

· Timing Closure: Solid experience in STA (PrimeTime/Tempus), CDC (Clock Domain Crossing) analysis, and managing hold/setup violations in advanced technology nodes or critical automotive contexts.

· Scripting: Excellent automation skills (Tcl, Python, Perl) for report analysis and massive data flow management.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to have):

· Previous experience in a digital environment.

· Background in Process Integration or knowledge of yield topics (Yield/DFM) and Failure Analysis.

· Experience with Automotive chips (ISO 26262) or Low Power design (UPF/CPF).

What Do We Offer?

· Join a highly innovative microelectronics company working at the forefront of RISC-V and advanced SoC technologies.

· Opportunity to play a key technical leadership role bridging industry and public research.

· Collaboration with top-tier research institutions and industrial partners across Europe.

· Flexible working conditions and hybrid work environment.

· Competitive remuneration aligned with seniority and expertise.

· Position based in Rome.

We are looking for outstanding people willing to join our mission to change this industry and help to build a better world.

If you feel identified with Openchip, please contact us.

At Openchip & Software Technologies S.L., we believe a diverse and inclusive team is the key to groundbreaking ideas. We foster a work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential – regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.