Fall 2026

Physical Design Engineer Intern

Updated on 8/21/2026

Intel

Intel

10,001+ employees

Pioneers microprocessors, CPUs for PCs

Compensation Overview

$43.22 - $58.46/hr

+ Stock bonuses

Company Historically Provides H1B Sponsorship

Santa Clara, CA, USA + 2 more

More locations: Folsom, CA, USA | Phoenix, AZ, USA

In Person

On-site presence is required.

Master's

Category
Hardware Engineering (1)

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Requirements
  • Currently pursuing a master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical specialized field.
  • Have at least 3 months of experience with physical design tools and flows, including design planning tools, floor planning, and static timing analysis.
  • Have knowledge of low-power design techniques and power reduction methodologies.
  • Have familiarity with clock tree synthesis and design optimization principles.
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze and solve complex technical problems.
Responsibilities
  • Support physical design implementation processes, including synthesis, place-and-route, timing analysis, clocking, and integration.
  • Assist in verification and signoff activities to ensure manufacturability and performance compliance of silicon designs.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance design scalability and automation efforts.
  • Apply design optimization techniques to improve power, performance, and area efficiency in silicon designs.
  • Perform floor planning and clock tree synthesis to achieve robust physical designs.
  • Contribute to static timing analysis to meet critical timing constraints for manufacturability.
  • Explore innovative solutions for low-power design and power reduction strategies in physical design workflows.
Desired Qualifications
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
  • Eagerness to explore and learn about design scalability, automation, and innovative approaches to physical design challenges.
  • Passion for continuous improvement and self-driven development in a dynamic environment.
  • Ability to adapt to new tools, techniques, and industry trends in silicon design.

Intel designs and manufactures semiconductor chips, with a focus on microprocessors for personal computers, servers, and other devices. Its core product is the CPU on a single silicon chip, which executes instructions, handles arithmetic and logic operations, and coordinates the work of other computer components. Intel originated in memory chips but shifted decisively to microprocessors in the 1980s, becoming a central supplier for the PC era after the IBM partnership and its famous x86 processor line. This shift, large-scale manufacturing, and close ties with computer makers set Intel apart from competitors who remained focused on memory or other components. The company aims to power computing by delivering high-performance, energy-efficient silicon solutions that drive a wide range of computing devices and applications.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Santa Clara, California

Founded

1999

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue rose 25% to $16.1 billion, led by data center growth.
  • Intel's 18A and 18A-P milestones improved yields, costs, and customer confidence.
  • Tesla's April 2026 14A commitment offers a potential anchor customer for next-generation foundry demand.

What critics are saying

  • Intel posted an $11.0 billion Q2 2026 GAAP loss, showing fragile economics.
  • Intel Foundry lost $2.1 billion in Q2 2026, delaying profitability beyond 2026.
  • July 2026 DCAI layoffs and reported August cuts signal continued execution stress and instability.

What makes Intel unique

  • Intel 18A-P entered risk production in June 2026, preserving a leading-edge foundry roadmap.
  • Panther Lake began high-volume manufacturing on Intel 18A at Fab 52 in Arizona.
  • Socionext selected Intel 18A-P in August 2026, validating external foundry traction.

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Benefits

We Invest in Your Life and Career: Intel offers a complete and competitive package of benefits1 that demonstrates how much we care for employees and their families through every stage of life.

Great Minds Deserve Great Rewards: We offer a total compensation package that ranks among the best in the industry. It consists of competitive pay, stock, bonuses, and benefit programs.

Intel Fuels Career Acceleration: Curiosity drives us to change the world. We provide employees opportunities to expand their knowledge, leadership abilities, and skill set.

Vacation, Holidays, and More: We offer opportunities for employees to refresh and recharge—from paid vacation time and holidays to flexible time off programs.

Health Benefits for the Whole You: We provide multiple benefits and resources to help employees take care of themselves and their families.

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-2%

1 year growth

-2%

2 year growth

-2%
Yahoo Finance
Aug 19th, 2026
Intel stock trades at 8.7x sales on unbuilt fab capacity despite $11.3B loss

Intel stock has surged 293.7% over the past year, trading at 8.7 times sales compared to 3.3 for the S&P 500. The premium reflects capacity still under construction rather than current financials. Over the trailing twelve months, Intel generated $57.0 billion in revenue but posted a net loss of $11.3 billion. The operating margin reached 7.6%, well below the S&P 500's 18.4%. Second-quarter 2026 revenue grew 25.4% year-over-year, with data centre and AI business up 59%. However, three-year average revenue growth stands at just 1.9%, compared to 5.9% for the S&P 500. Intel Foundry ran an operating loss of $2.1 billion in the second quarter. The company raised capital spending above $20 billion for 2026 and priced $20 billion in stock at $95 per share in August.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 19th, 2026
Intel GPU prices surge 48% as memory costs pass through to customers

Intel's Arc Pro B70 workstation GPU has seen prices surge up to 48% over the past month, according to Wedbush analyst Matt Bryson. The card, which features 32GB of GDDR6 ECC memory, rose 30% in the US to $1,299 from $999, whilst Korean prices jumped 46% to approximately $1,975. Bryson attributes the increases to rising memory costs being passed through to customers. This follows Intel's second-quarter disclosure that Data Center and AI server average selling prices increased 48% year over year, driven by premium product mix and pricing actions to offset higher input costs. Intel generated $16.1 billion in second-quarter revenue, up 25% year over year. The company has warned that industry-wide supply constraints could persist into next year, making cost inflation a key variable for investors to monitor.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 19th, 2026
Intel's client computing revenues rise 13% to $8.88B on AI PC momentum

Intel's Client Computing and Physical AI Group generated $8.88 billion in revenue during Q2 2026, marking 13% year-over-year growth from $7.87 billion. AI PC revenues surged 26% sequentially, supported by over 400 designs in Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 portfolio. Edge deployments now represent approximately 10% of CCPG revenues. More than 130 customers are testing Intel's Series 3 processors for edge AI and robotics applications, helping diversify beyond traditional PCs. Intel faces intensifying competition from AMD, which reported $3.1 billion in client revenues, up 23% year-over-year, and Qualcomm, which is expanding in AI PCs with its Snapdragon X2 platform. Intel expects overall PC consumption to decline at a low-double-digit rate in 2026 due to high memory prices.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 19th, 2026
Intel CEO invests $10M in shares as chipmaker posts 25% revenue growth driven by AI demand

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan purchased nearly $10 million worth of shares as part of the chipmaker's recent stock offering, signalling confidence in the company's turnaround. Intel recently reported revenues of $16.1 billion, growing 25% year-over-year, with its Data Centre and AI business unit seeing revenue surge nearly 60% to $6.3 billion. CoStar Group founder and CEO Andrew Florance purchased 83,300 shares totalling roughly $2.5 million. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla similarly invested, purchasing 38,000 shares for just over $1 million. These insider purchases reflect executives' confidence in their companies' longer-term outlook, with investors often viewing such moves as a positive signal.

Yahoo Finance
Aug 18th, 2026
Intel's $620M equity book holds just two stocks: Mobileye and Joby Aviation

Intel's disclosed equity portfolio consists of just two stocks worth $620 million combined: Mobileye and Joby Aviation, both focused on autonomous mobility. Mobileye represents 78% of holdings at $484 million, whilst Joby Aviation accounts for the remaining $137 million. Both positions have declined significantly. Mobileye shares fell 34% over the past year, and Intel recorded a $4.07 billion restructuring charge in Q1 2026 tied to Mobileye goodwill impairment. Joby Aviation is down 40% year-to-date despite generating 2,575% year-over-year revenue growth from a low base. The concentration reflects CEO Lip-Bu Tan's edge-AI thesis. Mobileye, Intel's 2017 acquisition that was spun out in 2022, posted Q2 2026 revenue of $508 million. Joby Aviation is developing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.