Staff Engineer, Physical Design - High Speed Interconnects

As the pioneers who introduced RISC-V to the world, SiFive is transforming the future of compute by bringing the limitless potential of RISC-V to the highest performance and most data-intensive applications in the world. SiFive’s unrivaled compute platforms are continuing to enable leading technology companies around the world to innovate, optimize and deliver the most advanced solutions of tomorrow across every market segment of chip design, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, automotive, data center, mobile, and consumer. With SiFive, the future of RISC-V has no limits.

At SiFive, we are always excited to connect with talented individuals, who are just as passionate about driving innovation and changing the world as we are.  

Our constant innovation and ongoing success is down to our amazing teams of incredibly talented people, who collaborate and support each other to come up with truly groundbreaking ideas and solutions.  Solutions that will have a huge impact on people's lives; making the world a better place, one processor at a time. 

Are you ready?  

To learn more about SiFive’s phenomenal success and to see why we have won the GSA’s prestigious Most Respected Private Company Award (for the fourth time!), check out our website and Glassdoor pages.

Job Description:

About the Role -

As a Staff Physical Design Engineer (High-Speed Interconnects), you will be responsible for the end-to-end implementation of high-bandwidth Network-on-Chip (NoC) and Uncore subsystems. 

This is not a traditional "siloed" backend role; you will operate at the intersection of architecture, design and physical implementation. You will drive PPA (Power, Performance, Area) outcomes by influencing RTL structures and floorplanning strategies early in the design cycle. Your expertise in advanced process nodes and system-level data flow will be critical in delivering scalable, high-frequency IP that forms the backbone of our next-generation compute platforms.

• End-to-End Implementation: Execute the full physical design flow (RTL-to-GDSII) for complex NoC and Uncore subsystems, ensuring timing closure and routability for interconnects.

• Architecture & PD Co-Design: Partner with RTL and Architecture teams to perform early-stage feasibility analysis. Identify physical bottlenecks in the microarchitecture and propose RTL restructuring, such as optimized pipelining or bus-width adjustments, to meet PPA targets.

• Advanced Floorplanning: Own hierarchical partitioning and macro placement. You will define the physical blueprint for massive die areas, optimizing pin assignments and global routing tracks to minimize latency across the fabric.

• Interconnect Problem Solving: Solve unique NoC challenges, including long-wire RC compensation, repeater strategy for global signals, and complex clock/reset distribution across hierarchies.

• Methodology Innovation: Develop and refine automated flows for hierarchical implementation. You will identify gaps in existing scripts and tools to improve turnaround time and design quality across multiple technology nodes.

• Technical Mentorship: Provide technical guidance to mid-level engineers, leading design reviews and establishing best practices for high-performance physical implementation.

• Deep Experience: 7+ years of hands-on physical design experience, with a proven track record of closing complex blocks or subsystems on FinFET nodes (7nm and below).

• Systems-Level Mindset: Understanding of NoC designs. You should be comfortable navigating RTL and understanding how logic structures translate to physical layout.

• Hierarchical Expertise: Proven ability to manage top-level integration, including budget constraints, hierarchical P&R and timing closure.

• Tool Mastery: Expert-level proficiency with industry-standard EDA suites - Synopsys and/or Cadence implementation and sign-off tools.

• Analytical Rigor: A data-driven approach to PPA tradeoff optimization; accompanied by a detail-oriented mindset and clear communication.

• Education: BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

• Be part of the RISC-V movement and help define the future of computing architecture.

• Work on industry-leading IP adopted by top customers and shipped in high volumes worldwide.

• Collaborate with world-class engineers in a supportive, fast-paced, learning environment.

• Enjoy a culture that values innovation, ownership, and technical excellence.

• Our large IP portfolio offers opportunities to engineer solutions across multiple IPs and product families over time.

Additional Information:

This position requires a successful background and reference checks and satisfactory proof of your right to work in:

Any offer of employment for this position is also contingent on the Company verifying that you are a authorized for access to export-controlled technology under applicable export control laws or, if you are not already authorized, our ability to successfully obtain any necessary export license(s) or other approvals.

SiFive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.