CPU Core Physical Design Engineer

Posted:
4/14/2026, 12:53:10 AM

Location(s):
Folsom, California, United States ⋅ California, United States

Experience Level(s):
Junior

Field(s):
Mechanical Engineering

Workplace Type:
Hybrid

Job Details:

Job Description: 

  • Performs physical design implementation of custom CPU designs from RTL to GDS to create a design database that is ready for manufacturing.
  • Conducts all aspects of the CPU physical design flow including synthesis, place and route, clock tree synthesis, floor planning, static timing analysis, power/clock distribution, reliability, and power and noise analysis.
  • Conducts verification and signoff including formal equivalence verification, static timing analysis, reliability verification, static and dynamic power integrity, layout verification, electrical rule checking, and structural design checking.
  • Analyzes results and makes recommendations to improve current and future CPU microarchitectures closely collaborating with logic, circuit, architecture, and design automation teams.
  • Possesses CPU specific expertise in various aspects of structural and physical design, including physical clock design, timing closure, coverage analysis, multiple power domain analysis, structured placement, routing, synthesis, and DFT.
  • Works intimately with industry EDA vendors to build and enhance tool capabilities to design a highspeed, low power synthesizable CPU.
  • Optimizes CPU design to improve product level parameters such as power, frequency, and area.
  • Participates in the development and improvement of physical design methodologies and flow automation.

Qualifications:

You must possess the below minimum qualifications to be initially considered for this position. Preferred qualifications are in addition to the minimum requirements and are considered a plus factor in identifying top candidates.

Minimum Qualifications:
The candidate must possess a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, Computer Science or Electrical/Electronic Engineering or any STEM related degree and 2+ years of experience OR master's degree in computer engineering, Computer Science or Electrical/Electronic Engineering or any STEM related degree and 1+ yrs. of experience in:

  • VLSI circuit design and synthesis.
  • Static timing analysis.
  • Low power design.


Preferred Qualifications:
1+ years of experience in:

  • x86 CPU architecture.
  • Tcl/Perl/Python programming.

          

Job Type:

Experienced Hire

Shift:

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location: 

US, California, Folsom

Additional Locations:

Business group:

Silicon and Platform Engineering Group (SPE): Deliver breakthrough silicon and platform solutions that deliver industry-leading products today while also defining the next generation of computing experiences.

Posting Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

Position of Trust

N/A

Benefits

We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock bonuses, and benefit programs which include health, retirement, and vacation. Find out more about the benefits of working at Intel.

 

 

Annual Salary Range for jobs which could be performed in the US: $122,440.00-172,860.00 USD

 

 

The range displayed on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target compensation for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific compensation range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

 

 

Work Model for this Role

This role will be eligible for our hybrid work model which allows employees to split their time between working on-site at their assigned Intel site and off-site. * Job posting details (such as work model, location or time type) are subject to change.

*

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Intel is committed to Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) compliance and ethical hiring practices. We do not charge any fees during our hiring process. Candidates should never be required to pay recruitment fees, medical examination fees, or any other charges as a condition of employment. If you are asked to pay any fees during our hiring process, please report this immediately to your recruiter.

Intel

Website: https://www.intel.com/

Headquarter Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

Employee Count: 10001+

Year Founded: 1968

IPO Status: Public

Last Funding Type: Post-IPO Equity

Industries: Artificial Intelligence (AI) ⋅ Information Technology ⋅ Product Design ⋅ Semiconductor ⋅ Software