We are seeking a talented and detail-oriented Physical Backend Design Engineer to join our IC (Integrated circuit) development team. The role involves key aspects of physical design, including automated place and route, floorplanning, clock tree synthesis (CTS), static timing analysis (STA), power analysis, and physical verification (DRC/LVS). The ideal candidate will have a strong knowledge of physical design methodologies, experience with industry-standard tools, and a passion for delivering high-quality semiconductor solutions.
How You Will Contribute And What You Will Learn
- Perform floorplanning, partitioning, and optimization to achieve area, power, and performance targets.
- Execute automated place and route (PnR) using industry-standard tools to generate physical layouts.
- Implement clock tree synthesis (CTS), ensuring low skew and efficient clock distribution.
- Conduct static timing analysis (STA) to verify timing closure and ensure the design meets performance requirements.
- Perform power analysis, including IR drop and electromigration (EM) checks, to optimize power distribution networks.
- Conduct physical verification tasks, including design rule checks (DRC) and layout vs. schematic (LVS) checks, to ensure manufacturability and compliance with foundry standards.
- Collaborate with design, verification, and DFT teams to resolve physical design challenges and improve chip performance.
- Work closely with foundry teams to address process technology issues and implement best practices.
Key Skills And Experience
You have:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred)
- 3+ years of experience in physical backend design for ICs. Complex chip designs through all stages of physical implementation
- Experience with tape-out of designs for advanced nodes is highly desirable
- Strong knowledge of physical design concepts, including place and route (PnR), clock tree synthesis (CTS), static timing analysis (STA) and power grid design
- Experience with physical verification tools like Cadence Pegasus or Mentor Calibre
- Familiarity with parasitic extraction tools (e.g., StarRC, Quantus, Calibre xRC)
- Scripting skills in Python, Tcl, Perl, or Shell for automation
- Required Tools: Cadence Innovus, Cadence Quantus, Cadence Tempus, Cadence Pegasus suite
It would be nice if you also had:
- Experience with advanced process nodes (e.g., 7nm and below)
- Knowledge of low-power design techniques, such as multi-Vt, multi-Vdd, or clock gating
- Familiarity with DFT concepts and tools, Chip packaging and thermal analysis considerations, FinFET technology and 3D IC design methodologies
About Us
Come create the technology that helps the world act together
Nokia is committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. Your career here will have a positive impact on people’s lives and will help us build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable, and inclusive world.We challenge ourselves to create an inclusive way of working where we are open to new ideas, empowered to take risks and fearless to bring our authentic selves to work
What we offer
Nokia offers continuous learning opportunities, well-being programs to support you mentally and physically, opportunities to join and get supported by employee resource groups, mentoring programs and highly diverse teams with an inclusive culture where people thrive and are empowered.
Nokia is committed to inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer
Nokia has received the following recognitions for its commitment to inclusion & equality:
- One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere
- Gender-Equality Index by Bloomberg
- Workplace Pride Global Benchmark
At Nokia, we act inclusively and respect the uniqueness of people. Nokia’s employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.We are committed to a culture of inclusion built upon our core value of respect.Join us and be part of a company where you will feel included and empowered to succeed.
About The Team
Nokia Bell Labs is the world-renowned research arm of Nokia, having invented many of the foundational technologies that underpin information and communications networks and all digital devices and systems. This research has produced nineNobel Prizes, five Turing Awards and numerous other awards.
