Senior SoC STA Engineer

Job Title: Senior SoC STA Engineer

Location:  San Diego, CA

Employment Type:  Direct/Full-time

Industry:  Semiconductor

Compensation:  

Schedule:  M-F

About the Opportunity:

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior SoC STA Engineer to own chip-level timing sign-off for next-generation SoC designs. In this role, you will work closely with RTL Design, Physical Design, Architecture, DFT, Verification, Product Engineering, and EDA vendors to ensure timing integrity and drive timing closure across all modes and corners from initial design through tape-out.

This is a hands-on senior technical role focused on chip-level static timing analysis (STA), timing closure, constraint development, methodology enhancement, automation, and pre-/post-silicon timing correlation.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

•Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability

•Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries

•People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work

•Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:

This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance—where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally.

About Acara Solutions

Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

Sound like a good fit?

What You'll Do:

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end chip-level static timing analysis and sign-off across all checks, modes, process corners, voltage, and temperature conditions.
• Develop, maintain, and validate sign-off-quality SDC constraints for clocks, resets, high-speed I/O interfaces, DFT, and configuration logic.
• Drive timing closure at both block and full-chip levels through critical path analysis, ECO implementation, and close collaboration with Physical Design teams on floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, and optimization.
• Perform advanced multi-mode multi-corner (MMMC) timing analysis including clock-domain crossing timing, OCV/AOCV/POCV methodologies, and advanced-node timing sign-off.
• Lead signal integrity and crosstalk analysis, identify noise-induced timing issues, and drive mitigation strategies with implementation teams.
• Conduct pre- and post-silicon timing correlation and drive timing sign-off readiness reviews and tape-out closure activities.
• Define and enhance organization-wide STA methodologies, sign-off standards, timing closure best practices, and automation infrastructure.
• Build and maintain STA automation and reporting flows using Python and Tcl for regression tracking, QoR analysis, dashboards, and sign-off reporting.
• Work closely with RTL and System Design teams during early design phases to improve physical awareness and timing convergence.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including RTL Design, Physical Design, Verification, DFT, Product Engineering, and Test Engineering to ensure timing requirements are met throughout the design cycle.
• Drive design and flow improvements, resolve implementation and methodology issues, and execute timing-related ECOs.
• Develop and improve physical design and timing methodologies to achieve QoR targets for performance, power, and area.
• Interface with EDA vendors to drive tool improvements, evaluate new tool capabilities, and improve design flows and productivity.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical documentation, sign-off methodologies, and engineering best practices.

Job Requirements

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum 6 years of hands-on experience in chip-level STA ownership and full timing sign-off across multiple successful tape-outs at 22nm technology nodes or below.
• Deep expertise with industry-standard STA tools such as Cadence Tempus.
• Strong understanding of advanced timing concepts including MMMC analysis, OCV/AOCV/POCV, signal integrity, crosstalk, and power-aware timing methodologies.
• Proven experience developing and managing complex hierarchical SDC constraints for large SoCs with multiple clock and power domains.

What Sets You Apart:

• Solid understanding of Logic Synthesis and Physical Design methodologies.
• Experience with floorplanning, power planning, CTS specification, place-and-route, and timing closure.
• Familiarity with CPF/UPF power intent design and implementation.
• Strong scripting and automation skills using Python and/or Tcl.
• Familiarity with foundry PDKs, Liberty timing models, and advanced variation/noise modeling techniques.
• Experience with DFT timing analysis including scan, MBIST, and JTAG interfaces.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams, IP providers, and EDA vendors.

Additional Information:

After you , you may receive a call or message from our AI Talent Scout about this role or other opportunities that match your skills and preferences. AI agent role is to help speed up your hiring process by answering questions, confirming basic information, and identifying whether there's a mutual fit.

The call or chat may be recorded so that our recruiting team can review it - they make all final hiring decisions, while AI agent simply helps move you forward faster. The best part? They are available 24/7, so you can connect whenever it's convenient for you.

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.