Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer
- Pay
- $220,000 – $270,000 per year
- Location
- Mountain View, CA · Hybrid
- Job type
- Full-time
- Level
- Director
- Experience
- 12+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Listed
- 30 days ago
Skills & highlights for this role
- timing closure
- physical verification
- DRC/LVS closure
- TCL scripting
- Python scripting
Also useful
- Cadence tools
- EM/IR analysis
- silicon photonics layout
- 3nm process nodes
Stated benefits & perks
- Health
- Dental
- Vision
- Equity
Responsibilities
- Implement digital blocks in advanced tech nodes from synthesis through physical verification, using industry standard tools and flows
- Drive fullchip STA signoff, review constraints, debug timing reports and implement ecos
- Drive power analysis and optimization while balancing area and performance trade-offs
- Drive full chip floor planning, IO placement and clock distribution
- Understand clock details and be able to customize clock implementation for functional and test clocks
- Debug and clean up DRC/LVS
- Functional and timing ECO implementation
- Work with EDA companies to resolve any tool issues
- Write TCL, Python, or Shell scripts to automate flow or customize existing flows
Qualifications
- Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
- 12+ years of industry experience working as a Physical Design Engineer
- Must have completed blocks or top level physical design for large ASICs or mixed signal chips that taped out
- Thorough knowledge of timing closure, LVS/DRC closure
- Experience in TCL and Python (or other scripting languages)
- Strong teamwork skills with the ability to collaborate with multiple functional teams across a variety of fields
- Ability to react to change and thrive in a fast paced environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Masters Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with 8 years of industry experience
- Hands-on experience with Cadence tools
- Tape-out experience 3nm designs
- Be willing to do manual layouts as well as willingness to learn and do silicon photonics layout
- EM/IR analysis using standard industry signoff tools
Pay and benefits
We offer competitive compensation. The base salary range for this role determined based on location, experience, educational background, and market data.
Salary Range
total compensation goes beyond base salary, it also includes a new hire equity grant, annual performance-based equity, and other rewards that recognize your impact and contribution.
$220,000—$270,000 USD
Benefits
- Comprehensive Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Savings Matching Program
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Generous Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Paid Family Leave
- Short Term & Long Term Disability
- Training & Development
- Commuter Benefits
- Flexible, hybrid workplace model
- Equity grants (applicable to full-time employees)
Export Control
Candidates should have capacity to comply with the federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.
About Lightmatter
Lightmatter is leading the revolution in AI data center infrastructure, enabling the next giant leaps in human progress. The company invented the world's first 3D-stacked photonics engine, Passage™, capable of connecting thousands to millions of processors at the speed of light in extreme-scale data centers for the most advanced AI and HPC workloads.
Lightmatter raised $400 million in its Series D round, reaching a valuation of $4.4 billion. We will continue to accelerate the development of data center photonics and grow every department at Lightmatter!
If you're passionate about tackling complex challenges, making an impact, and being an expert in your craft, join our team of brilliant scientists, engineers, and accomplished industry leaders.
Lightmatter is (re)inventing the future of computing with light!
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Physical Design Engineer to work on the implementation of complex digital blocks. In this role, you will leverage your expertise in advanced process nodes (3nm) to drive timing closure, power integrity, and physical verification for high-performance ASICs.
Beyond standard digital flows, you will have the unique opportunity to work alongside a team of world-class scientists and engineers in defining how the system will be optimized and trail blaze problems that are new to the photonics industry! If your passion is innovation, solving challenging technical problems and doing impactful work you should join our team!
Equal opportunity and legal notices
Benefits eligibility may vary depending on your employment status and location. Lightmatter recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
From Lightmatter's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on October 10, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.
How Rolev.ai helps with this application
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Common questions
What is the salary for the Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer role at Lightmatter?
The Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer posting at Lightmatter states compensation of $220,000 – $270,000 per year. It is listed as a full-time position. Final pay may depend on location, experience, and interview evaluation on Lightmatter's official career site.
Where is the Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer job at Lightmatter located?
This Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer position at Lightmatter is located in Mountain View, CA (Hybrid). Always check Lightmatter's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.
What qualifications are required for Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer at Lightmatter?
For the Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer role, Lightmatter highlights 12+ years of relevant experience; a bachelor's degree; experience with timing closure, physical verification, DRC/LVS closure, TCL scripting, Python scripting. Rolev.ai can score your existing resume against these requirements and show any skill gaps before you apply.
How do I apply for the Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer position at Lightmatter?
This listing links directly to Lightmatter's Greenhouse application page. You can apply directly on Lightmatter's site, or use Rolev.ai to check your resume fit, generate a zero-hallucination tailored resume and cover letter for this posting, and autofill the Greenhouse application form in 1 click with the Rolev.ai Chrome extension. You always review the form and press Submit yourself.