Physical Design and CAD Engineer

The role

You will serve as a Technical Lead developing next-generation connectivity ASICs for cloud and AI infrastructure. This role combines Physical Design CAD methodology development with hands-on place-and-route implementation.

What you will do

• Develop and maintain Physical Design CAD flows and methodologies for advanced process nodes.
• Build automation frameworks using Python and Tcl to support synthesis through signoff.
• Perform hands-on Physical Design and PNR, including floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, and timing closure.
• Develop and optimize EDA tool flows for timing analysis, extraction, EM/IR, and physical verification.
• Support block-level implementation from synthesis through GDSII signoff.
• Improve design quality, automation, and flow efficiency.
• Collaborate with design, verification, and engineering teams to support ASIC development and tapeout.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in ASIC Physical Design, CAD methodology, or design automation
• Strong understanding of physical design implementation and RTL-to-GDSII methodologies
• Experience developing or maintaining Physical Design CAD flows
• Hands-on experience with PNR, timing closure, and physical design signoff
• Proficiency in Python and/or Tcl scripting
• Experience with Cadence and/or Synopsys physical design tools
• Experience with advanced semiconductor process nodes (7nm or below)

Nice to have

• Master's degree
• Experience with 3nm or more advanced process technologies
• Experience building automated CAD flows from synthesis through signoff
• Familiarity with Cadence Innovus, Tempus, Genus, Synopsys ICC2, Fusion Compiler, and PrimeTime
• Experience with EM/IR analysis, DRC/LVS, ECO, and timing signoff methodologies
• Experience with block-level ownership through tapeout
• Experience developing scalable CAD methodologies and automation frameworks

About the company

Astera Labs (NASDAQ: ALAB) provides rack-scale AI infrastructure through purpose-built connectivity solutions. The company’s Intelligent Connectivity Platform integrates semiconductor-based technologies with the COSMOS software suite.