Principal Engineer – STA
TYLsemi · 101 days ago
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Engineer – STA to lead timing analysis and signoff activities for advanced ASIC/SOC designs. The role requires deep expertise in static timing analysis methodologies, timing closure strategies, and signoff convergence across complex multi-clock, multi-voltage, and high-performance designs. The ideal candidate will provide technical leadership, drive cross-functional collaboration, and enable successful tape-outs at advanced technology nodes. 1
What You’ll Do
-
Lead end-to-end STA and timing signoff activities for full-chip and subsystem-level designs.
-
Drive timing closure across setup, hold, SI, noise, crosstalk, IR-aware timing, and MMMC scenarios.
-
Define timing constraints, validate SDCs, and ensure robust timing methodology execution.
-
Collaborate closely with RTL, Physical Design, DFT, CTS, and CAD teams to achieve timing convergence.
-
Analyze and resolve complex timing violations and critical path bottlenecks.
-
Support ECO implementation and signoff verification for advanced node tape-outs.
-
Develop and improve automation flows, scripts, timing dashboards, and methodology enhancements.
-
Mentor engineers and lead technical reviews for timing architecture and signoff readiness.
What We’re Looking For
-
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, VLSI, or related field.
-
12+ years of experience in STA and timing signoff for ASIC/SOC programs.
-
Strong expertise in setup/hold analysis, timing exceptions, CTS interaction, and timing convergence techniques.
-
Hands-on experience with Synopsys PrimeTime, Tempus, StarRC, and related signoff tools.
-
Strong understanding of SI, OCV/AOCV/POCV, CDC, low-power timing methodologies, and advanced node effects.
-
Experience with advanced technology nodes such as 7nm, 5nm, or below.
-
Strong scripting skills in Tcl, Python, Perl, or Shell scripting.
-
Excellent technical leadership, debugging, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Good to Have
-
Experience with package-aware timing analysis and chiplet architectures.
-
Exposure to AI/ML-driven timing optimization methodologies.
-
Familiarity with automotive or high-reliability SOC design standards.
Success in This Role Looks Like
-
Successful timing closure and signoff delivery for complex SOC tape-outs.
-
Efficient management of timing convergence with minimal ECO impact.
-
Improved STA methodology scalability, automation, and execution efficiency.
-
Strong technical influence, mentoring contribution, and cross-functional leadership.
