Physical Design Engineer – Block-Level, Subsystem Implementation

Job overview

The Physical Design Engineer – Block-Level, Subsystem Implementation role is onsite in San Jose, CA. Compensation is $200,000–$375,000 per year. The engineer supports Etched’s development of inference-focused AI hardware and frontier inference clusters. The role owns block-level or subsystem physical design from synthesis through GDSII sign-off, optimizing power, performance, and area while closing timing and sign-off requirements. Close collaboration with RTL designers and contributions to the shared RTL-to-GDSII flow help advance Etched’s hardware products.

What you'll do

• Own block-level or subsystem physical design from floorplanning, synthesis, placement, clock tree synthesis, and routing through GDSII. Drive timing closure across corners and modes, including constraints, static timing analysis debug, and engineering change orders. Close sign-off for electromigration, IR drop, RC extraction and correlation, and physical verification including DRC, LVS, and antenna checks. Generate abstracts, views, and timing budgets for hierarchical integration
• collaborate with RTL designers on PPA
• improve owned blocks and shared flows
• supervise outsourced physical design work and ensure delivered block quality.

What we're looking for

Skills & competencies

physical design engineer

block-level design

subsystem implementation

san jose ca

etched

$200k–$375k/year

rtl-to-gdsii

timing closure

ppa optimization

ai hardware

5nm and below

Work arrangement

• Weekend coverage required

Benefits & perks

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with generous premium coverage
• $500 monthly credit for waiving medical benefits
• $2,500 monthly housing subsidy for eligible employees living within walking distance
• relocation support to San Jose
• wellness benefits
• daily office lunch and dinner
• compute budget subject to ROI justification.

Why this role

Etched describes its team as fully in-person in San Jose and focused on co-designing chips, racks, software, and manufacturing for inference workloads.

About the employer

Etched is hiring for this role. Industry: Electronic Computer Manufacturing. Sector: 33.