Enigma People Solutions has been exclusively retained to support an ambitious VC-backed deep-tech start-up developing a fundamentally different approach to computing.
This is an opportunity to help physically build a new generation of computers combining advanced semiconductor technology with digital photonics.
Our client is working at the intersection of semiconductors, digital computing and photonics, developing a novel architecture designed to push beyond the traditional limits of Moore's Law. The technology uses optical logic to create new possibilities for high-performance computing.
What is needed is an engineer who wants to help turn that architecture into silicon.
As a Physical Design Engineer, you'll work directly with the team on the design and implementation of the company's novel chip architecture.
You'll have the opportunity to work across: Floorplanning → Placement → CTS → Routing → Timing → Optimisation → Tapeout
You'll be working on a chip where conventional physical-design approaches may need to be reconsidered because of the novel properties of optical logic.
You'll have genuine influence over the physical implementation of the architecture, working across floorplanning, placement, clock-tree synthesis, routing, timing analysis and optimisation.
You'll help determine how physical design needs to work for a fundamentally different type of computing architecture.
You'll need to understand the differences between conventional electronic integrated circuits and photonic integrated circuits, and be comfortable adapting established semiconductor methodologies to new requirements.
You'll work with EDA partners and the internal team to optimise CAD flows and physical-design methodologies.
The goal is to develop the best approach for tomorrow's architecture.
This is a VC-backed deep-tech business where your contribution can have a disproportionate impact.
You'll join while the technology and processes are still being developed, giving you the opportunity to influence the chip, the physical-design flow and the engineering culture around it.
We're looking for engineers with:
- Extensive physical-design tapeout experience
- Experience with sub-10nm CMOS
- Strong knowledge of floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing and timing
- An understanding of modern semiconductor physical-design flows
- An appreciation of the differences between EIC and PIC design
- A willingness to adapt established flows to novel optical-logic requirements
Experience with PDK development, RTL design, modern computer architecture or CAD software development would also be valuable.
Most importantly, we're looking for someone who enjoys solving difficult engineering problems where there isn't an established playbook.
You don't necessarily need a background in photonics.
You need the technical depth to understand conventional semiconductor design and the curiosity to rethink how it should be applied.
“What if the physical design of a chip had to be reinvented for optical computing?”
If you want to work on technology that could fundamentally change how computing is designed and have genuine influence over the physical implementation we'd like to hear from you.
Enigma People Solutions is supporting this search.
For a confidential discussion about the opportunity, contact Ben Hanley at Enigma People Solutions.