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CPU Physical Design Engineer - Staff

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Server CPU Physical Design Engineer, Senior/Staff level - Onsite - Cambridge
We are seeking talented Physical Design Engineers to join the CPU team in Cambridge, UK. The team is developing next-generation, high-performance, power-efficient custom CPU cores for advanced compute and server-class platforms that will help transform the industry.
This position is open from Senior Engineer through Staff Engineer level, with responsibilities, ownership, and technical leadership scaled according to experience.
Key Responsibilities
- Own or contribute to CPU block implementation from RTL/netlist to GDS, including synthesis, floorplanning, power planning, placement, clock tree synthesis, routing, optimization, ECOs, and signoff.
- Drive timing closure and physical implementation convergence across multiple modes, corners, and operating conditions.
- Work on high-performance, low-power CPU designs with demanding performance, power, and area targets.
- Debug and resolve complex implementation issues related to timing, congestion, clocking, routing, IR drop, power integrity, EM, ECO closure, DRC/LVS, and physical verification.
- Collaborate closely with RTL, architecture, circuits, CAD, SoC, and post-silicon teams to improve design quality, implementation efficiency, and product performance.
- Evaluate and contribute to the design process from concept through productization, including architecture definition, feasibility analysis, pre-silicon design and verification, and post-silicon validation.
- Develop and enhance physical design flows, automation, and methodologies to improve productivity and quality of results.
- Use data-driven analysis to identify implementation bottlenecks, improve design convergence, and push PPA beyond standard targets.
- For Staff-level candidates, provide technical leadership, mentor engineers, define implementation strategies, and drive closure of critical CPU blocks or methodology initiatives.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Required Skills and Experience


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- Strong experience in physical design implementation, including synthesis, floorplanning, placement, CTS, routing, timing closure, ECOs, and signoff.
- Strong understanding of static timing analysis and timing closure methodologies, including trade-offs between timing, power, area, congestion, and routability.
- Knowledge of high-performance and low-power implementation techniques.
- Hands-on experience with industry-standard EDA tools for synthesis, place and route, STA, power analysis, physical verification, and signoff, such as Genus, Innovus, Fusion Compiler, PrimeTime, Tempus, Voltus, RedHawk, Conformal, or equivalent tools.
- Ability to debug complex physical design issues across timing, congestion, clocking, routing, power, and verification domains.
- Scripting and automation experience using one or more of TCL, Python, or Perl.
- Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a global, cross-functional engineering environment.
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