VLSI CAD Engineer, ECO Tools - New College Grad 2025

Details

NVIDIA's CAD R&D team builds highly optimized internal EDA/CAD tools used across NVIDIA product lines. This role focuses on ECO (Engineering Change Order) automation and related algorithms, combining knowledge of VLSI hardware design with efficient software implementation. The position is targeted at new graduates (2025) and involves working across many areas of the VLSI flow, developing tools that are used widely by design teams.

Responsibilities

• Innovate across the VLSI flow to make incremental recovery and optimization fast and seamless.
• Implement and improve algorithms (primarily in C++) for ECO-related steps such as incremental CTS (clock tree synthesis), incremental scan insertion, power hookup, placement, timing optimization, and related flows.
• Map ECOs, minimize patch sizes, and handle reconfiguration of clocks, power, and DFT as part of automation efforts.
• Work on incremental timing and power optimization algorithms.
• Educate RTL and design teams on identified best practices and help deploy solutions directly inside those teams.
• Help develop GUIs and design-visualization tools to boost designer productivity; build intuitive GUIs and APIs for design teams.
• Over time, expand into broader physical design implementation and analysis tools; own the process from discovery and invention to deployment.

Requirements

• Recent graduate (MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related field) or equivalent experience.
• Experience across VLSI flow elements, including synthesis, clocks, DFT, power distribution, timing, and place & route.
• Proficiency in C++ (primary implementation language for the role).
• Some familiarity with SAT solvers and packages for logic minimization.
• Curiosity and insight into improving design team efficiency through intuitive GUIs and APIs.

Preferred / Ways to stand out

• Prior practical experience in physical design.
• Experience with GUI frameworks, especially ImGui or Qt.
• Background with synthesis and timing tools such as Design Compiler, Fusion Compiler, and PrimeTime.
• Experience with scripting languages (Python, Perl, Tcl).
• Experience using AI coding assistants (e.g., Cursor).

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary ranges by level: Level 2 — 108,000 USD to 184,000 USD; Level 3 — 136,000 USD to 212,750 USD.
• Eligible for equity and company benefits (see NVIDIA benefits page).

Other information

• Applications accepted at least until July 29, 2025.
• NVIDIA is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in hiring and promotion practices.