Design Engineer II

Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Job Opportunity

Foundry PDK Design Enablement Engineer Experience Level: 2–4 Years Department: Methodology & Flow Enablement Group Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, VLSI, Microelectronics, Semiconductor Technology, or a related field

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated Foundry Process Technology, PDK & DTCO Engineer with 2–4 years of experience to join our process technology group. In this role, you will bridge the gap between process technology and design, driving next-generation semiconductor technology through cutting-edge path-finding methodologies. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in PDK enablement, physical verification decks, process/design interaction electrical studies, Spice model understanding and design automation.

Key Responsibilities

PDK Enablement: Validate, deploy, and maintain foundational PDK components specifically tailored for advanced technology nodes.

Technology Study Activities

Conduct rigorous standard cell, SRAM, and custom circuit benchmarking alongside interconnect optimization to maximize power, performance, and area (PPA).

Automation & Methodology

Design, develop, and maintain robust scripts and automated execution flows for PDK enablement/validation and PDK analysis.

Collaborative Path-Finding

Partner closely with internal DTCO groups to turn advanced device architectures into reality.

Required Qualifications & Technical Skills Industry Experience

2–4 years of hands-on experience in semiconductor technology analysis, foundry PDK enablement, and the co-optimization of PDK components like LVS, DRC, Parasitic Extraction, spice models. Strong understanding of PDK design enablement flows. Exposure to multiple foundry & nodes is a plus.

Device Physics

Strong fundamental understanding of CMOS device physics, including advanced architectures like GAA (Gate-All-Around), FinFETs, and planar MOSFETs.

Physical Verification & EDA

Deep knowledge of Layout Versus Schematic (LVS), Design Rule Checking (DRC), Parasitic Extractions, and Spice models at transistor level. Cadence based tool knowledge is a plus.

Tooling Familiarity

Direct experience or high proficiency with Cadence-based tool suites is highly advantageous.

Team Collaboration

Proven experience interfacing with core PDK development teams, technology enablement units, or advanced technology benchmarking groups. We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.