CPU Custom Library Cell Design (IC) Physical Design Austin / Santa Clara · Hybrid

Nuvacore is building ground-up high performance, low-power CPU for next-generation compute workloads. As a member of the CPU-specific custom circuit design team, you will enable the design to achieve the target PPA specifications for the product.

THE ROLE

As a Custom Library Circuit Engineer, you will participate in the following :

Design and characterize library cells including flip-flops, clock-gating cells, level shifters, and special purpose AOI cells to optimize PPA at advanced process nodes.

Own end-to-end library IP closure: schematic and layout through DRC/LVS/antenna, parasitic extraction, and characterization

Partner with Foundry/PDK, CAD, Physical Design, and DFT teams to benchmark new process technology, validate IP on test chips, and co-optimize cells for downstream design PPA.

Define and drive adoption of Tools, Flows, and Methodology — including characterization automation and compiler QA — to raise design efficiency and set team-wide best practices.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Hold a BS or MS degree with (ideally) 12+ years of experience in standard cell and/or custom memory circuit design.

Hands-on transistor-level design experience with static circuits and state-retaining elements (latches, flops), as well as custom logic gates at advanced CMOS nodes.

Proficient with industry-standard EDA tools for schematic, layout, extraction, and characterization, applied to custom cell and memory design workflows.

Experience providing feedback to foundry partners to help improve PPA, yield, and other important qualities in future revisions of the PDK.

Well-versed in STA and Liberty/CCS model correlation, including timing and power characterization for both Functional and DFT (Design for Test) modes.

Strong communication and collaboration skills, comfortable working directly with foundry, CAD, and physical design partner teams.

REQUIREMENTS — PREFERRED

Experience across the full design flow of a custom circuit — cell/memory architecture, circuit design, compiler automation, characterization, and timing/model generation.

Experience translating PDK device characteristics into circuit decisions.

Proven PPA-focused execution for standard cells, including architecture trade-offs, critical-path modeling, full-cut analysis, and Monte Carlo variation studies.

Experience using Agentic AI tools for productivity and automation.