Physical Design Manager at NVIDIA

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Physical Design Manager

Company: NVIDIA

Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Physical Design / Hardware Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-10T00:00:00

Experience Level: Manager (5+ years management, 5+ years overall physical design)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Lead and manage a team of up to 10 physical design engineers focused on complex, high-speed silicon chip development.
Drive the physical design execution of critical blocks, ensuring performance, power, and area targets are met under challenging constraints.
Oversee the entire RTL2GDS flow, including synthesis, place and route, timing closure, and physical verification.
Contribute to the development and improvement of physical design flows and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a hardware/silicon role, the principles of managing a technical team, driving complex projects, and optimizing performance under constraints align with leadership roles in design systems, technical design, or complex digital product design environments. The focus shifts from visual/interaction design to physical implementation and optimization in the silicon domain.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Manage, mentor, and lead a team of physical design engineers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment.
Direct the physical design activities for various blocks within high-speed communication devices, ensuring adherence to specifications and aggressive targets.
Address and resolve complex timing, congestion, and other physical design challenges across different design types (including high cell count and high-speed blocks).
Oversee all stages of the physical design flow from RTL synthesis through final GDSII signoff, including power and clock distribution, place and route, STA (Static Timing Analysis), power/noise analysis, and physical verification (LVS/DRC).
Participate in the development, enhancement, and maintenance of physical design flows and automation scripts.

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferred the core responsibilities involve both technical oversight of the physical design process and the managerial duties of leading a team. This is standard for manager roles in deep technical domains like silicon design. Emphasized the specific technical stages (synthesis, PNR, STA, etc.) as these are critical physical design concepts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical work experience.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience managing physical design teams, coupled with over 5 years of hands-on experience in physical design methodologies and execution. Experience with portfolio projects showcasing successful chip tape-outs or complex block closures is highly relevant.

Required Skills:

Extensive experience in leading and managing technical teams, specifically in physical design or related semiconductor fields.
Comprehensive understanding and practical experience with RTL2GDS (RTL to GDSII) chip development flows and methodologies.
Deep technical knowledge across all key aspects of physical design, including Place and Route (PNR), Static Timing Analysis (STA), power and clock distribution, and physical verification.
Proficiency in diagnosing and resolving complex physical design issues such as timing violations, congestion, and signal integrity problems.
Familiarity with physical design verification methodologies, including LVS (Layout Versus Schematic) and DRC (Design Rule Checking).
Experience using industry-standard physical design EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools from vendors like Synopsys, Cadence, or similar.
Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to foster teamwork and collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with high-speed design methodologies and challenges in complex networking silicon.
Knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., TCL, Python, Perl) for flow automation and customization.
Understanding of power integrity and signal integrity analysis techniques relevant to physical design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Explicitly stated the required education and experience levels based on the job description. Added preferred skills common in advanced physical design roles and team leadership based on industry norms and the technical nature of the role at a company like NVIDIA. Structured skills into 'Required' and 'Preferred' for clarity.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

While not a traditional visual design portfolio, candidates should prepare a technical portfolio or work examples focusing on complex physical design projects led or significantly contributed to.
Showcase experience managing the physical design of challenging blocks or full chips, highlighting key technical contributions and leadership role.
Demonstrate successful tape-out experiences and ability to achieve demanding performance, power, and area targets.
Include examples of resolving complex technical issues (e.g., timing closure, congestion relief) and the methodologies employed.

Process Documentation:

Document the physical design process followed for key projects, emphasizing the methodology used from RTL handoff to GDSII signoff.
Detail the approach to team management, project planning, task allocation, and progress tracking within the physical design flow.
Explain the strategies for handling design iterations, incorporating feedback, and ensuring quality checks at each stage (e.g., timing signoff, physical verification).

📝 Enhancement Note: Adapted the concept of a "portfolio" for a technical physical design role. Instead of visual work, focused on documenting technical project experience, leadership contributions, problem-solving approaches, and successful project outcomes (like tape-outs). Explained the importance of documenting the physical design process and management methodologies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on research for Physical Design Manager roles at major technology companies in Israel (specifically Tel Aviv area), with 5+ years of management experience, the estimated annual salary range is typically between ₪450,000 to ₪650,000+ NIS (approx. $120,000 to $175,000+ USD) before bonuses and stock options. This range can vary significantly based on exact experience, technical depth, negotiation skills, and the overall compensation package (including stock, which is a significant component at a company like NVIDIA). The cost of living in Tel Aviv is relatively high compared to other parts of Israel.

Benefits:

Comprehensive health insurance coverage (details likely vary based on local regulations and company policy).
Retirement savings plans or pension contributions.
Stock options or Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) as part of the compensation package, which can be substantial at NVIDIA.
Potential for performance-based bonuses.
Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave.
Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.
Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

Working Hours: Full-time position, typically requiring standard business hours, though flexibility may be needed to meet project deadlines inherent in chip design cycles. The role involves managing a team and complex project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Provided an estimated salary range based on market research for similar roles in Tel Aviv, Israel, considering the seniority (Manager) and the specific technical domain (Physical Design at a top-tier tech company like NVIDIA). Included a note about the cost of living and the potential for significant non-salary compensation (stock). Listed common benefits for tech companies of this size and caliber, inferring their availability based on industry standards.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Computer Hardware Manufacturing, specializing in GPU-accelerated computing, artificial intelligence, data centers, gaming, and networking. NVIDIA is a leader in high-performance computing and silicon innovation.

Company Size: Large enterprise (10,001+ employees globally, with over 42,000 on LinkedIn). This size implies established processes, significant resources, and opportunities for working on large-scale, impactful projects.

Founded: 1993. NVIDIA has a long history of innovation in graphics processing and has evolved into a full-stack computing company driving advancements in AI, data centers, and autonomous machines.

Team Structure:

The Physical Design team is part of the Networking Silicon engineering group, suggesting a focus on high-speed communication devices.
The manager role involves leading a team of up to 10 engineers, indicating a medium-sized, focused sub-team within a larger engineering department.
Expect significant collaboration with other engineering disciplines, including RTL design, verification, architecture, and potentially software/firmware teams.

Methodology:

Likely follows a structured, industry-standard RTL2GDS (RTL to GDSII) flow for chip design and implementation.
Employs rigorous physical design methodologies focused on achieving aggressive timing, power, and area targets.
Utilizes advanced EDA tools and potentially proprietary internal flows for optimization and verification.

Company Website: http://www.nvidia.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferred company and team context based on NVIDIA's public profile and the job description details. Described the industry focus, company size implications, and likely team structure and design methodologies based on the nature of physical design in a large semiconductor company.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a managerial role within the Physical Design discipline. It sits above senior individual contributor roles and involves leading a technical team and driving project execution. The scope includes both technical oversight and team leadership responsibilities.

Reporting Structure: The role likely reports to a Senior Manager, Director, or potentially a VP within the Networking Silicon engineering organization. This structure suggests opportunities for upward mobility within engineering management or potentially transitioning into broader technical leadership roles.

Design Impact: The work directly impacts the performance, power efficiency, and physical feasibility of NVIDIA's high-speed networking silicon. Success in this role is critical to delivering competitive products with industry-leading specifications.

Growth Opportunities:

Potential advancement to Senior Physical Design Manager, Director, or other engineering leadership positions within NVIDIA's silicon teams.
Opportunities to deepen expertise in advanced physical design techniques, methodologies, and emerging technologies.
Exposure to diverse projects and product lines across NVIDIA's broad portfolio (data center, networking, AI).

📝 Enhancement Note: Analyzed the role's position within a typical engineering hierarchy based on the "Manager" title and team size. Inferred potential reporting structures and career progression paths common in large technology companies with deep engineering teams. Highlighted the direct impact of the role on product success.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site office environment in Tel Aviv, Israel. This suggests a collaborative workspace designed for technical teams working closely together on complex hardware design projects.

Office Location(s): Primary location is Tel Aviv, Israel. The job description also mentions Beer Sheva as an alternative location, suggesting the possibility of team members or related teams being located there, or future relocation possibilities.

Design Workspace Context:

Expect a technical office environment equipped with necessary hardware, software, and high-performance computing resources required for complex physical design work.
Collaboration spaces are likely available for team meetings, technical discussions, and cross-functional interactions.
The on-site nature emphasizes face-to-face collaboration with the team and other engineering disciplines, which is often crucial in complex hardware development.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site. While flexible work arrangements may exist within standard business hours, the nature of managing a team and being physically present for collaboration is emphasized by the on-site requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Detailed the work environment based on the on-site requirement and location. Described the likely nature of the workspace for a hardware engineering team and the implications of being on-site for collaboration and team management.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening call with an HR recruiter to assess basic qualifications and experience.
Technical interview(s) focusing on physical design expertise, methodologies, and problem-solving skills, potentially involving whiteboard sessions or technical discussions.
Interview(s) specifically assessing leadership and management skills, including experience managing teams, project execution, and conflict resolution.
Presentation of past work or technical portfolio highlighting relevant projects, challenges overcome, and leadership contributions.
Interviews with potential peers and cross-functional partners to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.
Final interview(s) with hiring manager and potentially higher-level management.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Prepare a concise presentation or document outlining 2-3 key physical design projects you managed or significantly contributed to.
For each project, clearly articulate your role, the challenges faced, the methodologies applied, and the final outcome (e.g., successful tape-out, achieved performance targets).
Highlight your leadership contributions, how you managed the team, resolved technical issues, and ensured project delivery.
Be prepared to discuss the technical details of the physical design flow, specific tools used, and trade-offs made.

Challenge Preparation:

While a formal "design challenge" in the traditional sense might not be applicable, be prepared for technical discussions or hypothetical scenarios related to physical design problems (e.g., timing closure strategy for a complex block, congestion mitigation techniques).
Practice articulating your thought process for diagnosing and solving physical design issues under pressure.
Review fundamental physical design concepts, STA principles, and common issues encountered in deep submicron technologies.

ATS Keywords: Physical Design, RTL2GDS, Place and Route (PNR), Static Timing Analysis (STA), Timing Closure, Power Analysis, Clock Distribution, Physical Verification, LVS, DRC, EDA Tools (Synopsys, Cadence), Team Management, Leadership, Chip Design, Semiconductor, High-Speed Design, Congestion, Signal Integrity, Power Integrity, TCL, Python, Perl, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Problem Solving, Collaboration, Networking Silicon, ASIC Design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Outlined a typical interview process for a technical management role at a large semiconductor company, incorporating stages for technical depth, leadership assessment, and cultural fit. Adapted the portfolio review and challenge preparation sections to be relevant to a physical design manager role, focusing on technical project documentation and problem-solving discussions rather than visual design. Included a comprehensive list of relevant ATS keywords for resume optimization.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Industry-standard EDA tools for synthesis, place and route, and timing analysis. This likely includes tools from major vendors like Synopsys (e.g., Fusion Compiler, PrimeTime) or Cadence (e.g., Innovus, Tempus). Proficiency in at least one major tool suite is essential.
Tools for power and noise analysis, crucial for optimizing silicon performance and reliability.
Tools for physical verification (LVS, DRC) to ensure layout correctness before tape-out.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Version control systems (e.g., Git, Perforce) for managing design data and flows.
Job scheduling and management systems for running simulation and implementation jobs on compute farms.
Internal documentation platforms and project management tools for tracking progress and communicating within the team and across disciplines.

Research & Testing:

While not directly a "design" research role, the manager needs to understand how design choices impact chip performance, which is measured through silicon validation and characterization post-tapeout.
Knowledge of silicon debug methodologies and tools can be beneficial for understanding and resolving post-silicon issues related to physical design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Listed the types of EDA tools and technologies commonly used in physical design, referencing the major vendors mentioned in the original description. Included tools for collaboration and handoff relevant to managing a technical team and interacting with other engineering groups. Adjusted the "Research & Testing" section to align with the context of silicon design validation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Emphasis on technical excellence and achieving aggressive performance, power, and area targets for high-speed silicon.
Value placed on innovation and developing efficient physical design methodologies and flows.
Strong focus on collaboration and teamwork across various engineering disciplines (RTL, verification, architecture, etc.) to achieve project goals.
Commitment to quality and rigorous verification to ensure robust and reliable silicon designs.

Collaboration Style:

Expect a collaborative environment with regular team meetings, technical reviews, and cross-functional interactions.
Emphasis on clear communication and problem-solving together to address complex physical design challenges.
A culture of knowledge sharing and mentorship within the team to support individual and collective growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferred the likely team culture and values based on NVIDIA's reputation as a high-performance technology company and the specific requirements of a physical design role focused on high-speed networking silicon. Emphasized technical rigor, collaboration, and quality as key cultural aspects.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Managing complex physical design projects with aggressive schedules and demanding performance specifications, requiring strong technical leadership and project management skills.
Addressing intricate timing, power, and signal integrity challenges in advanced process nodes and high-speed designs.
Staying updated with the latest physical design methodologies, EDA tool capabilities, and process technology advancements.
Effectively managing and mentoring a team of engineers, fostering their development while ensuring project delivery.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunities to work on cutting-edge silicon technologies and contribute to industry-leading products in AI, data centers, and networking.
Access to advanced EDA tools, compute resources, and internal training programs.
Potential for growth into higher-level engineering management or technical leadership roles within NVIDIA.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identified common challenges faced by physical design managers in a fast-paced, high-performance silicon environment. Linked these challenges to opportunities for skill development and career growth within the company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to walk through your experience managing the end-to-end physical design flow (RTL2GDS) for a complex block or chip. Detail the key stages, challenges, and your role in overcoming them.
Discuss your approach to timing closure, including methodologies used for signoff, handling complex timing paths, and reducing timing violations. Provide specific examples from past projects.
Explain your strategies for managing congestion and optimizing floorplanning and placement for performance and area.

Company Culture Questions:

Research NVIDIA's values, particularly in engineering and innovation. Be prepared to discuss how your leadership style and technical approach align with their culture.
Discuss your experience collaborating with cross-functional teams (e.g., RTL designers, architects, verification engineers) and how you ensure smooth handoffs and communication throughout the design cycle.
Prepare questions for the interviewer about the team structure, current projects, technical challenges, and opportunities for growth within the physical design organization at NVIDIA.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Focus on 2-3 significant projects that showcase your technical depth and leadership capabilities in physical design management.
For each project, structure your presentation around the problem/goal, the technical challenges, your team's approach and methodology, your specific contributions and leadership actions, and the successful outcome.
Be ready to delve into the technical details, including specific tools used, scripts developed, and the rationale behind key design decisions. Highlight how you guided your team through technical hurdles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Provided targeted interview preparation advice specifically for a physical design manager role. Focused questions on technical process, leadership experience, and cultural fit, with suggestions for demonstrating expertise through project examples and strategic questioning. Tailored the portfolio presentation strategy to emphasize technical contributions and leadership in complex physical design projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in physical design management, RTL2GDS flows, team leadership, and relevant EDA tools, using keywords from the ATS list provided.
Prepare a technical portfolio or document showcasing key physical design projects you have led or significantly contributed to, focusing on technical challenges, methodologies, and outcomes.
Practice discussing your technical expertise and leadership experience, using the interview preparation questions as a guide, and be ready to present your portfolio effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Physical Design Manager