M

Microsoft

Builds workplace software, PCs and cloud services

Principal Physical Design Engineer

Full-TimePosted on 10/20/2026
$165.6k - $331.2k/yr
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Austin, TX, USA+4 moreMore locations: Raleigh, NC, USA | Redmond, WA, USA | Hillsboro, OR, USA | Mountain View, CA, USA
In Person
Hardware EngineeringSilicon & ASIC Design
Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field and 7 or more years of technical engineering experience; or a master's degree in one of these fields or a related field and 10 or more years of technical engineering experience; or a bachelor's degree in one of these fields or a related field and 12 or more years of technical engineering experience; or equivalent experience.
  • Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.
  • As a condition of employment, provide proof of citizenship, U.S. residency, or other protected status to assess eligibility to access export-controlled information; citizenship is verified with a valid passport, with other documents available to lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees where applicable.
Responsibilities
  • Lead and execute the end-to-end physical-design flow from synthesis through place-and-route for multiple designs, completing signoff stages including timing, physical verification, electromigration and IR-drop (EMIR), formal equivalence, and low-power verification.
  • Construct clocks and perform clock tree synthesis (CTS).
  • Explore methodologies to optimize system-on-chip (SoC) blocks for clock construction and related methodology.
  • Coordinate with computer-aided design (CAD), RTL/design, design-for-test (DFT), architecture, power and performance, technology teams, and other internal and external partners.
  • Own RTL-to-GDS implementation within the physical-design domain.
  • Influence design tools, flows, and methodologies for construction, signoff, and optimization using a data-driven approach.
  • Collaborate across teams to deliver solutions.
  • Provide technical leadership and expertise across physical-design domains.
  • Communicate project status and planning.
Desired Qualifications
  • Track record implementing designs through synthesis, floorplanning, place-and-route, extraction, timing, and physical verification in the physical-design domain.
  • 20 or more years of experience in physical design.
  • Experience with production-silicon tape-outs in advanced foundry process nodes.
  • Experience with low-power design methodology for system-on-chip (SoC).
  • Understanding of system-on-chip or subsystem design trade-offs across power, performance, and area (PPA).
  • Familiarity with clock-construction strategies for high-speed designs.
  • Technical expertise across physical design, from synthesis through place-and-route of partitions and signoff, including timing signoff, physical verification, EMIR signoff, formal equivalence, and low-power verification.
  • Ability to own complete physical-design execution for a medium- to large-size SoC block, remain hands-on as an individual contributor, and collaborate across teams.
  • Ability to partner with physical-design flow/CAD and methodology teams to identify and resolve physical-design TFM issues.
  • Problem-solving and data-analysis skills.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.

About the company

Microsoft builds workplace software, operating systems and cloud infrastructure for consumers, businesses and government agencies, from small organizations to global enterprises. Microsoft 365 combines Word and Excel with Teams communication and Copilot AI features, while Windows runs PCs and Surface supplies the company's own computers. Azure rents computing capacity, storage and databases to build and run web applications. Microsoft also sells Xbox consoles and games, collecting revenue through software licenses, subscriptions, usage charges and product sales. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Redmond, Washington

Founded

1975

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • US corporate staff receive education support: eligible, approved graduate coursework qualifies for up to $10,000 annually.
  • Cloud demand expands: July 2026 results showed Azure and other cloud services revenue grew 43% year-over-year in fiscal Q4.
  • Investment has an earnings cushion: July 2026 results reported $155.2 billion consolidated operating profit for fiscal 2026.

What critics are saying

  • Performance reviews include security: every Microsoft employee must discuss their security contribution with their manager.
  • Office flexibility depends on the role: Microsoft's postings specify requirements ranging from fully remote to fully on-site.
  • Cloud capacity faces local limits: Microsoft describes power-grid delays and water constraints affecting US datacenter expansion.

What makes Microsoft unique

  • Hybrid customers stay within reach: Azure Arc manages servers across customer datacenters and competing clouds.
  • Developer reach extends beyond Azure: Microsoft's GitHub hosts code collaboration alongside AI coding tools.
  • Professional data widens its business: Microsoft owns LinkedIn's recruiting, advertising and workplace-learning network.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Professional Development Budget
  • Conference Attendance Budget
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Remote Work Options

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
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