Physical Design Lead – Custom Silicon Management

Austin Cupertino Until 9/22/2026 10+ years exp First posted July 24, 2026 Last posted July 24, 2026
Job description

Are you a leader and want to apply your engineering background to make big things happen? Can you influence, connect, get results and communicate effectively? Can you deliver on a predictable and dynamic schedule? The Custom Silicon Management Group provides critical custom silicon for all mobile products including iPhone, iPad, iPod, and AppleTV. We have an extraordinary opportunity for senior level engineers to drive and lead technical engagements between Apple and silicon suppliers working on groundbreaking technologies. We are looking for a remarkable Physical Design Lead to work with a highly hardworking Custom Silicon team at Apple to design and develop innovative chips for the coolest products. This position focuses specifically on supporting Physical Design and related activities for the chips.

Description

You will have the opportunity to integrate and come-up with new insights, as well as work with vendors to promote efficiency in the Silicon community and ensure high quality of the chips.

Minimum Qualifications

BS degree.
Physical Design experience.
Knowledge of digital design concepts.

Preferred Qualifications

10+ years of relevant industry experience.
Experience leading physical design teams.
Track record of having taped out a number of complex chips - from gates to GDS.
Working knowledge of front-end design methodology including basic RTL coding, synthesis methodology, timing constraints generation, multiple clock domain handling, low power techniques.
In depth practical, hands-on knowledge of the entire P&R methodology - including but not limited to - IO planning, ESD techniques, floor planning, power planning, clock tree synthesis, MCMM timing closure, routing, DFM techniques and physical verification.
Working knowledge of at least one of the industry CAD tools - Cadence, Synopsys, Mentor or Atoptech.
Proficient in Static Timing Analysis and the techniques used for timing closure and noise avoidance / fixing.
Hands-on experience in Power and Signal Integrity analysis.
Ability to debug and fix LVS, DRC, Antenna, ERC issues.
Familiarity with the best analog layout design practices for sensitive circuits like OpAmp, matching pair, etc.
Mixed signal SoC tapeouts involving multiple instances of analog IPs.
Low power / leakage management methodology and techniques.
Extraction and characterization of IP elements.

About this role

Summary

Lead physical design teams, develop chips, ensure design quality, and collaborate with vendors.

Job title

Physical Design Lead – Custom Silicon Management

Experience level

senior level

Minimum experience

10+ years exp

Industry

technology

Location requirements

Must be in Austin or Cupertino, remote not specified.

Salary

Not specified

Management role

Yes

Skills & keywords

Required skills

physical designdigital designRTL codingsynthesistiming constraintsclock domain handlinglow power techniquesCAD tools (Cadence, Synopsys, Mentor, Atoptech)Static Timing AnalysisPower and Signal IntegrityLVS, DRC, Antenna, ERC

Preferred skills

tapeout experienceIC layoutanalog layoutmixed signal SoClow power leakage managementIP extraction

Specializations

physical designdigital designRTL codingtiming closurepower management
Locations

Structured locations inferred from the posting.

Austin, TX, USA

On-site City

Cupertino, CA, USA

On-site City