Principal Analog Layout Methodology Engineer – AI & Automation - 19299
- Location
- Sunnyvale, California, United States
- Work mode
- On-site
- Employment type
- Full-time
About the job
We Are At Synopsys, our Silicon IP business is expanding to serve growing demand for special-purpose silicon. We are moving beyond traditional standards-based IP into application-optimized IP (AOIP), helping customers develop differentiated silicon tailored to specific workloads and system architectures. As AI drives demand for custom silicon across hyperscalers and system companies, we use our interface IP leadership, system expertise, and engineering scale to deliver optimized IP subsystems and platforms that accelerate time-to-market while improving performance and efficiency.
You Are You are an analog layout methodology expert who has used AI in real production flows, beyond prototypes. You are discerning about where AI adds value and match the tool to the problem, whether that is AI, a rule-based method, a classic algorithm, or a script. You are focused on users. You listen to layout designers, understand the problem behind each request, and turn it into clear, testable requirements. You are a systems thinker who can define and specify AI-enabled systems from start to finish, including requirements, data, evaluation of results, failure modes, and deployment. You build generalizable, scalable, and maintainable software designed for long-term reuse across teams and projects. You are also an excellent communicator who can adjust your message for engineers, partner teams, and leadership, presenting with confidence and precision in design reviews, deployments, and stakeholder meetings.
What You'll Be Doing
- Help shape the strategy and roadmap for analog layout methodology, including where AI and automation fit in, and influence priorities across the team.
- Collect and synthesize feedback from layout users across projects. Identify patterns, separate needs from nice-to-haves, and turn them into specifications with clear scope, acceptance criteria, and priority.
- Identify the highest-impact challenges in the layout flow and determine the most effective solution for each, whether AI-driven, algorithmic, rule-based, or process-based.
- Write specifications for AI-enabled layout systems, including problem definition, data needs, success metrics, validation, guardrails, and hand-off to production.
- Bring requests to key stakeholders, including CAD/EDA, AI and automation teams, circuit design, and leadership. Frame each request around its impact, dependencies, and trade-offs to support clear decisions.
- Run deployments and reviews. Present plans and results, set expectations, train users, collect feedback after release, and close the loop.
- Build and review reusable automation frameworks and set coding standards the team can grow with.
- Enable layout engineers to apply AI effectively and responsibly in their daily work through hands-on training, live demonstrations, and mentorship.
The Impact You Will Have
- Create solutions that address real designer problems, grounded in requirements that are gathered and validated before development begins.
- Enable faster stakeholder decisions by ensuring asks are clear, prioritized, and well justified.
- Drive smooth rollouts and higher adoption through well-run deployments and reviews.
- Deliver measurable improvements in layout productivity, quality, and turnaround time.
- Build automation that scales across projects instead of becoming a collection of fragile tools.
What You'll Need
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a similar technical field; MSEE or PhD preferred.
- 10–15 years of experience in IC design.
- Deep expertise in analog and mixed-signal layout, including matching, parasitics, reliability (EM/IR), and physical verification.
- A proven track record of designing, deploying, and maintaining AI/ML or advanced automation in production engineering environments.
- Proven experience gathering user requirements and turning them into technical specifications that teams have delivered.
- Strong software engineering habits, including modular design, testing, version control, and documentation.
- Working knowledge of agentic AI workflows, strong Python programming skills, and proficiency in Tcl or SKILL.
- Experience with version control systems such as Git and Perforce. Familiarity with databases is a plus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills. You can influence adjacent teams in ambiguous or sensitive situations and represent the work to executive leadership.
Who You Are
- You understand analog layout deeply and can connect real designer needs with practical methodology and automation solutions.
- You know when AI adds value and when a rule-based method, classic algorithm, script, or other approach is the better solution.
- You listen to users, uncover the underlying problem, and translate their needs into clear and testable requirements.
- You think in systems and consider requirements, data, evaluation criteria, failure modes, validation, and deployment from the beginning.
- You build scalable, maintainable software that can be reused across teams and projects.
- You communicate effectively with engineers, partner teams, and leadership and can present confidently in design reviews, deployments, and stakeholder discussions.
- You use independent judgment to select methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria, and you review and may approve the work of others.
The Team You'll Be Part Of You will join the Analog/Mixed-Signal IP (AMSIP) Enablement, Methodology and Automation team, which defines the methodologies, flows, and tools that our analog layout engineers rely on to deliver Synopsys IP. Within this team, you will be part of the sub-team that creates and shapes the AI workflows, skills, and tools for analog layout engineers. You will partner closely with layout designers, CAD/EDA, and automation teams to turn real production needs into solutions that raise layout productivity and quality. Rewards and Benefits We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.
- Inclusive work culture supporting diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Reasonable accommodations available throughout the recruitment and employment process
From Synopsys's careers page (Company careers page), checked 12 Nov 2026.
How to apply
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- Fill in the form and upload your résumé there. Jobiwork never sees your application.
- Synopsys will reply to you directly. No real employer asks you for money to apply.
Posted 12 Nov 2026 · checked 12 Nov 2026 · Report this job