At a Glance
- Tasks: Design, test, and deploy advanced hardware in a collaborative team environment.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech firm focused on innovative hardware solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on using software tools to enhance hardware engineering.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by leading physical design and collaborating across teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in physical design flows and ability to read/write RTL.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
We are looking to hire an ASIC Physical Design Engineer to help us design, test and deploy advanced hardware. As part of our Ultra Low Latency team, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with people in areas across the firm, including trading, networking and research infrastructure. This isn't a traditional PD role. We're a small team where everyone works across the chip design process, and we expect our PD engineers to lead with physical design expertise but think like chip designers.
You should be comfortable owning a PD flow end-to-end, but also able to read and write RTL and reason about design decisions that cross the front‑end/back‑end boundary. If you've spent your career exclusively in PD, this probably isn't the right fit—but if you've worked across the stack, either because you started as an RTL designer and moved into PD, or because you were on a smaller team where you had to wear multiple hats, we'd love to talk.
We're big believers in the ability of tools to improve the productivity, reliability and day‑to‑day joy of hardware engineering. That's why we created Hardcaml, a hardware development toolchain embedded in OCaml. We don't expect you to know OCaml (we'll teach you here), but we are looking for hardware engineers who are excited about the advantages that better tools can bring, and are willing to try new things as a result.
About You
- You have hands‑on experience building and running modern physical design flows (e.g., floorplanning, place and route, timing closure, physical verification, power analysis).
- You don't need to have optimised every last detail of every flow, but you should have broad enough experience across PD that you can own a flow end‑to‑end and know where the risks are.
- Beyond PD, you can read and write RTL and understand how front‑end design decisions affect physical implementation—and vice versa.
- You think about physical design in the context of the overall chip, not just as a downstream consumer of a netlist.
- You're interested in using software engineering techniques to improve the hardware design process, and you have experience programming in a high‑level language (Python, C++, Haskell, etc.).
ASIC Physical Design Engineer employer: Jane Street
At Jane Street, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for those in the ASIC Physical Design Engineer role. Our collaborative work culture fosters innovation and creativity, allowing you to engage with diverse teams across trading, networking, and research infrastructure. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we provide opportunities to expand your skill set in both physical design and software engineering, all while working in a dynamic environment that values the integration of advanced tools like Hardcaml to enhance productivity and job satisfaction.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land ASIC Physical Design Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those who work in ASIC design. Attend meetups or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your projects and experiences in physical design and RTL. This can be a great conversation starter during interviews and helps us see your hands-on experience in action.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of PD flows and RTL design. Practice explaining your thought process on design decisions, as we love to see how you think about problems and solutions across the chip design process.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for passionate engineers who are excited about using better tools in hardware design. Your application will get the attention it deserves, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
We think you need these skills to ace ASIC Physical Design Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Versatility:We want to see that you can wear multiple hats! Highlight your experience across the chip design process, especially if you've transitioned from RTL to PD. This will show us you're not just a one-trick pony.
Emphasise Your Tool Savvy:Mention any tools or software engineering techniques you've used to enhance hardware design. We love engineers who are excited about improving productivity and reliability through better tools!
Be Clear About Your Experience:When detailing your hands-on experience with physical design flows, be specific! Talk about your involvement in floorplanning, timing closure, and any challenges you faced. This helps us understand your depth of knowledge.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jane Street
✨Know Your PD Flows
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of modern physical design flows like floorplanning, place and route, and timing closure. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with these processes and how you've managed risks in previous projects.
✨Think Like a Chip Designer
Since this role requires a broader perspective, prepare to talk about how your physical design expertise integrates with front-end design. Be ready to explain how design decisions impact the overall chip and share examples from your past work where you had to consider both sides.
✨Show Your Software Savvy
Highlight any programming experience you have, especially in high-level languages like Python or C++. Discuss how you've used software engineering techniques to enhance hardware design processes, as this is a key aspect of the role.
✨Be Open to Learning
Since the team values innovation and new tools, express your enthusiasm for learning OCaml and other technologies. Share instances where you've embraced new tools or methods in your work, showing that you're adaptable and eager to improve.
