Etched · 10 hours ago
Head of Physical Design
San Jose, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expEtched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers, and they are seeking a Head of Physical Design to lead the end-to-end RTL-to-GDSII path for their next-generation transformer inference ASICs. This role involves owning all aspects of physical implementation and leading a team of PD engineers to deliver fast, reliable, and production-ready silicon.
AI InfrastructureArtificial Intelligence (AI)ComputerHardwareSemiconductor
Responsibilities
Own and optimize all facets of physical design, including floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, and timing closure for complex AI accelerators
Build and lead a high-performing PD team, including engineers focused on implementation, flows, and signoff
Define and drive physical signoff strategy, ensuring DRC, LVS, ERC, and CDC are achieved with margin
Partner closely with RTL, DV, backend, and methodologies teams to ensure seamless integration and handoff across the stack
Guide block-level and chip-level floorplanning with input on timing budgets, power domains, and interconnect strategy
Drive early architecture and microarchitecture input to reduce rework and enable schedule predictability
Interface with EDA vendors and the foundry to integrate cutting-edge tools, flows, and node-specific optimizations
Lead the development of automation scripts (e.g., Python, Tcl) to accelerate design cycles and increase flow robustness
Create telemetry and dashboards to track design health and ensure accurate KPIs across closure milestones
Deliver fast, production-grade silicon through aggressive, high-confidence planning and execution
Qualification
Required
10+ years of experience in physical design for advanced-node ASICs, including multiple successful tapeouts
Demonstrated ownership of complex block- and full-chip physical implementation projects, from RTL handoff to signoff
Deep expertise in timing closure, including STA, path analysis, constraint management, and ECO optimization
Experience managing and mentoring physical design teams, ideally in fast-paced or startup environments
Strong scripting and automation skills (Python, Tcl) to optimize workflows and improve engineering velocity
Familiarity with leading EDA tools like Cadence Innovus, Synopsys ICC2, and Mentor Calibre
Comfort working in a high-performance, in-person engineering culture that values ambition and execution
Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage
$500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits
Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office
Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)
Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
Daily lunch + dinner in our office
Company
Etched
Building the hardware for superintelligence
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Etched has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (9)
2024 (11)
2023 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$625.36MKey Investors
StripesPrimary Venture Partners
2026-01-14Series Unknown· $500M
2024-06-25Series A· $120M
2023-05-16Seed· $5.36M
Leadership Team
Chris Zhu
Co-Founder
Robert Wachen
Co-Founder and President
Recent News
alleywatch.com
2026-01-20
2026-01-20
2026-01-16
Company data provided by crunchbase