CAD ENGINEER JOB DESCRIPTION

A CAD Engineer in semiconductor design owns the flows that every Physical Design Engineer depends on to run a tapeout. Without maintained RTL2GDS pipelines and regression infrastructure, design teams lose weeks to manual handoffs and undetected sign-off violations. The CAD Engineer holds that infrastructure together, developing automation for back-end flows spanning floor planning through physical verification sign-off, while coordinating with EDA vendors and foundry teams to keep PDKs current. The role reports into a CAD or design infrastructure group within a semiconductor company.

As the CAD Engineer, you own the automation infrastructure and EDA tool environment that enables silicon design teams to meet tapeout schedules with verified, sign-off-clean results. You work across Physical Design, Analog, and IP teams, with direct interfaces to EDA vendors and technology foundries, supporting projects from PDK bring-up through production release.

Career Impact: Sustained experience owning RTL2GDS flows and PDK qualification at advanced process nodes positions a CAD Engineer as a sought-after specialist in a market where back-end automation expertise is consistently scarce.

Business Impact: When automation infrastructure is well maintained, Physical Design Engineers can run regression checks and sign-off validation with minimal manual effort, directly reducing the risk of schedule slippage on multi-million-dollar tapeout programs.

Growth Opportunity: Depth in physical verification concepts, scripting across multiple languages, and foundry collaboration creates a clear path toward senior CAD engineering, CAD architecture, or design methodology lead roles within semiconductor organizations.

• Develop and maintain automation flows for RTL check-in, check-out, and regression execution triggered by new design commits.
• Build push-button pipelines that allow Physical Design Engineers to launch and monitor back-end runs with minimal manual steps.
• Support and qualify PDKs for advanced process nodes in coordination with foundry and EDA vendor teams.
• Develop and maintain component libraries including technology files, symbols, and standard cell verification scripts for IC designers.
• Create QoR dashboards and reports that give design teams visibility into run results across timing, power, and physical verification sign-off.
• Monitor and automate license usage and grid resource distribution to optimize compute allocation across concurrent design runs.
• Evaluate new EDA tools and releases, track vendor bugs, and coordinate resolution to minimize disruption to active design flows.
• Collaborate with Physical Design, Analog, and IP teams to identify automation gaps and deliver solutions aligned to program schedules.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of CAD development experience in a semiconductor or ASIC design environment, with hands-on automation delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to write and maintain automation scripts across at least two scripting languages used in EDA environments.
• Solid understanding of back-end physical design methodology including floor planning, place and route, timing closure, and sign-off.
• Knowledge of physical verification concepts including design rule checking and layout versus schematic verification.
• Experience supporting or qualifying PDKs in coordination with external foundry or IP vendor teams.
• Proficiency with relational or document-based database platforms for storing and querying design run data.
• Experience managing design assets through a version control system in a multi-engineer environment.

• Familiarity with Analog or Mixed-Signal design flows and the simulation environments used alongside them.
• Experience with chip-finishing requirements for advanced process nodes including metal fill, DFM rules, and boundary cell insertion.
• Exposure to CI and CD frameworks applied to hardware design flows rather than software pipelines.
• Knowledge of EM and IR analysis or substrate-noise simulation as part of a sign-off methodology.

• Regression pass rate per RTL check-in cycle, measuring how reliably automation catches violations before they reach tapeout.
• Mean time to resolve EDA vendor bugs that block active Physical Design or Analog team workflows.
• PDK qualification cycle time, tracking how quickly new foundry releases are validated and available to design teams.
• License utilization rate, reflecting how efficiently concurrent tool seats are allocated across active runs.
• Dashboard coverage ratio, measuring the percentage of active runs with automated QoR reporting in place.
• Typical tools: Physical design automation (commonly Innovus or ICC2), PDK and simulation environments (commonly Virtuoso, Spectre, Calibre),

• Base Salary Range: $115,000 to $160,000 per year depending on experience and location.
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus, typically 8 to 15 percent of base salary.
• Equity: RSU grants common at established semiconductor companies, vesting over 4 years.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee and dependents.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus standard US public holidays.
• Common Perks: Relocation assistance, professional development budget, and EDA conference attendance support.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background checks, including verification of employment history and applicable screening, are a condition of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request during the application and employment process. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The CAD Engineer owns the development of physical design methodology and CAD flows, building push-button RTL2GDS pipelines and automation for vendor license management, LSF grid distribution, and QoR dashboards within the Physical Design team. Partnering with cross-functional teams, this role delivers the infrastructure that enables PD Engineers to run complex back-end flows with minimal effort and measurable efficiency gains.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and support innovative physical design methodology and CAD flows.
• Create automation for Release Process management for RTL check-in and check-out using Git.
• Create push button flows for RTL2GDS to help PD Engineers run various runs with minimal effort.
• Establish a regression flow triggered by new RTL check-in.
• Create automation for distributing runs to LSF grid and for viewing server CPU and Memory usage.
• Create automation for Vendor license management and usage tracking.
• Create automation for Collateral sanity checks for 3rd party Vendor collateral release.
• Take inputs from Physical Design team and create reports and dashboards for visualizing run QoR.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve methodologies and efficiencies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in EE, CE, or CS.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Physical Design CAD development.
• 3 years of automation experience with scripting skills in Perl and Python.
• Strong background in back-end design methodologies, processes, and implementation.
• Good knowledge of back-end tools and flows including floor planning, P and R, timing, power, EM and IR physical verification, and sign-off.
• Expert in PD tools such as Innovus, ICC2, Fusion Compiler, STA, and Sign-Off.
• Experience with databases such as MySQL, MS SQL, and MongoDB.
• Familiar with chip-finishing issues including metal-fill, spare-cells, DFM rules, and boundary-cells for latest process technologies.
• Experience using Git, GitHub, and GitLab for code repository.

Embedded within the CAD management team, the CAD Engineer maintains current versions of key top-level models across all global sites while coordinating vendor versioning, import, and format conversion of CAD data. Working closely with designers and equipment teams, this role ensures that model libraries remain accurate, accessible, and aligned with manufacturing needs across the organization.

Core Functions

• Embed with design and equipment teams to understand the scope and priority of models requiring maintenance.
• Work with CAD management team to understand current policies, procedures, and their limits.
• Coordinate with outside vendors for versioning, import, and conversion of CAD models to internal common format.
• Maintain current versions of key top-level models across all sites globally.
• Identify potential for automation of CAD data exchange including import, storage, and format conversion.
• Work with designers to simplify models and simplify them directly when designers' bandwidth is limited.
• Organize periodic training sessions to standardize procedures and best practices.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
• 8 years of combined experience in CAD-based mechanical design and CAD data management.
• Expert user of SolidWorks and SolidWorks PDM Pro.
• Basic competence in CATIA and Autodesk Inventor and their associated PDM applications.
• Expertise in CAD design and visualization platforms such as NX, Creo, Navisworks, and AutoCAD.
• Familiarity with drafting standards including P and ID, facilities layouts, cable routing, and electrical diagrams.
• Exposure to PLM and PDM systems in high-volume manufacturing settings.
• Ability to write and test scripts for automation of CAD tasks.

Reporting to the engineering staff, the CAD Engineer drafts working drawings and wiring diagrams using computer-assisted drafting equipment, supporting engineers and installation crews with accurate, standards-compliant technical documentation. Partnering with engineering and operations personnel, this role contributes to design accuracy by reviewing completed drawings and resolving technical problems as they arise.

Primary Duties

• Draft working drawings and wiring diagrams for engineers or wiring and installation crews.
• Use computer-assisted drafting equipment and software.
• Draw finished designs from sketches.
• Assist in designing back plate layouts.
• Ink in lines and letters on pencil drawings as required.
• Review completed drawings for accuracy and conformity to standards and regulations.
• Confer with engineering staff and other personnel to resolve problems.

Skills and Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Associate Degree of Science in Engineering or 2-3 years of relevant work experience.
• Knowledge of design techniques, principles, tools, and instruments involved in technical plans, blueprints, and drawings.
• Knowledge of equipment, tools, and mechanical devices and their uses to produce motion, light, power, and technology.
• Ability to solve problems mathematically and perform rapid calculations.
• Ability to see details at close range and communicate information clearly.

Sitting at the intersection of CAD tool development and Analog and RF design, the CAD Engineer troubleshoots simulation problems, develops internal flows, and bridges tool vendors and design teams to ensure smooth adoption of CAD-supported workflows. Operating across documentation, training, and tool evaluation functions, this role enables design teams to work efficiently with the latest simulation environments and EDA toolsets.

Duties

• Be part of a skilled team critical to the success of next-generation innovative product offerings.
• Work alongside Analog and RF design teams as a bridge between tool vendors and the organization.
• Provide creative methods such as Lunch and Learn and Symposium papers to keep designers aware of CAD-supported flows.
• Troubleshoot and debug simulation problems through detailed analysis.
• Develop documentation and training to explain flows to design teams.
• Develop and maintain internal flows to streamline tool usage.
• Contribute to simulation model support and perform tool evaluations and benchmarks.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with 3 years of professional experience.
• Strong familiarity with Analog and RF design and simulation tools such as Virtuoso, Spectre, AFS, and HSPICE.
• Familiarity with simulation environments such as ADE.
• Experience scripting using PERL, SKILL, Ocean, and other scripting languages.
• Familiarity with mixed-signal design and knowledge of simulation models such as BSIM4 is a plus.

A key member of the CAD and design infrastructure team, the CAD Engineer develops automation techniques for installation, QA, and release processes while serving as the primary liaison between IP vendors and internal design teams. Collaborating across engineering groups, this role accelerates project delivery by identifying appropriate IP suppliers, resolving tool issues, and ensuring automation flows meet organizational objectives on schedule.

Accountabilities

• Develop robust automation techniques and documentation to speed up installation, QA, and release processes.
• Provide 3rd party Intellectual Property support to design teams.
• Collaborate with design teams on design flows and serve as a bridge between IP vendors and the organization.
• Obtain requirements from design teams and identify appropriate IP suppliers.
• Analyze designer needs and suggest appropriate solutions.
• Prioritize and accomplish key organizational objectives on a committed schedule.
• Perform tool evaluations and benchmarks and report or track bugs to vendors.

Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering with 0-2 years of professional experience.
• Experience scripting using Python, PERL, Makefile, SKILL, and TCL.
• Knowledge of schematic and layout design tools such as Cadence Virtuoso.
• Understanding of Physical Verification concepts including DRC and LVS.
• Experience with Circuit Design concepts and simulation tools for Analog and Digital circuits.

Accurate technical documentation for complex defense and industrial programs depends on the CAD Engineer, who generates drawings from 3D models, builds Bills of Materials, and manages product data through release using AS9100-compliant procedures. Based within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, this role serves as a key resource for junior staff development and vendor and customer interfacing across the full product lifecycle.

Key Deliverables

• Utilize drafting software, standards, and practices to generate technical drawings for structural, mechanical, and electrical components.
• Prepare sketches or detailed layouts from 3D CAD models or written instructions on complex projects.
• Build and maintain the product structure including Parts List and Bill of Materials.
• Calculate dimensions, angles, curvature, materials, and relationships of parts to the entire device.
• Create preliminary, draft, and final released technical data packages.
• Archive and maintain 2D and 3D files using product data management tools.
• Provide inputs to project managers and technical leads on programmatic and technical deliverables.
• Educate and advise junior staff members in technical and procedural aspects.
• Interface with vendors and customers and comply with AS9100 Quality procedures.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Understanding of Military, ANSI, and IPC-620 standards.
• Working knowledge of ASME Y14.100, ASME Y14.5, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing standard practice.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and SolidWorks for 2D digital drawings and 3D modeling.
• Experience with SolidWorks PDM is a plus.
• Knowledge of metal and plastic fabrication processes and cable harness assembly materials and methods.
• Ability to perform tolerance studies and stack-up analysis.

As the CAD Engineer, this role supports project managers in completing drawing modifications and room book updates within schedule while setting up procedures that comply with EHS regulations and company standards. The facility engineering team relies on this work to maintain accurate layouts, documentation, and maintenance records across industrial plant operations.

Functions

• Support project managers to complete project modification of drawings and room books within schedule.
• Guarantee measurement devices are in good condition according to company and national regulations.
• Set up related procedures and regulations complying with authority requirements and company standards.
• Work with production and other departments to create layouts and drawings.
• Check, file, and maintain final documentation and maintenance procedures for projects.
• Responsible for EHS and Audit work of facility and observation of maintenance instructions.
• Provide employees with necessary information and data.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 1 year of relevant industrial working experience.
• Working experience in Electronic and Semiconductor plants is preferred.
• Proficiency in MS Office Package including Word and Excel, Process control systems, and CAD software.
• Good stress management skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Good communication skills in both oral and written English.
• Familiarity with project management practices.

CAD Engineer delivers engineering computations, drawing submittals, and construction documents in support of civil engineering projects, operating under the guidance of senior engineers within a project-based team environment. The work directly supports accurate design execution from requisition through final documentation, helping clients receive technically sound and code-compliant project deliverables on schedule.

Activities

• Perform engineering and design assignments applying basic principles and fundamental theories from a four-year engineering program.
• Prepare or assist in preparing engineering computations, material quantity takeoffs, estimates, surveys, and designs.
• Assist in preparing detailed requisitions for material purchase, services, and subcontracts.
• Review supplier drawing submittals and technical bid analyses under guidance of senior engineers.
• Assist in preparation and issuance of specifications, data sheets, and other construction documents.
• Provide input to CAD Designer and Drafters working on the same project.
• Verify and complete requests for proposals, estimates, and other technical documents.

Background and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited four-year college or university.
• 5 years of related work experience.
• Basic engineering knowledge in civil or a related field.
• Knowledge of Scheduling software such as Microsoft Project and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with CAD and other PC software packages associated with engineering.
• Organizational ability to plan, prioritize, and monitor activities and projects.
• Ability to work well in a group environment and foster a team approach.

The CAD Engineer owns the end-to-end technical component design process from brainstorm through factory implementation, driving DFMEA analysis, mechanical testing, and validation to reduce risk across product development. Partnering with material, process, and vertical function teams, this role delivers design solutions that resolve technical and business challenges for complex manufactured components.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive technical component design work from brainstorm to factory implementation including material requirements, design limits, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive DFMEA processes and establish action lists to derisk identified failure modes through mechanical testing and finite element analysis.
• Develop and drive tests to validate component capability and reliability.
• Provide solutions to technical and business problems through component design.
• Provide input for scoping new component developments based on customer and stakeholder needs.
• Collaborate with vertical functions to agree on scope and approach for solving technical challenges.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering including product design, mechanical, aerospace, or similar.
• Experience with CATIA V5 and Unigraphics for 3D CAD modeling and drafting.
• Knowledge of wind turbine blade design, manufacturing, and composite components is preferred.
• Strong English language skills in verbal and writing.
• Ability to manage complexity and volatility in daily work.
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance and identify high-priority activities.

Embedded within the Vehicle Motion and Dynamics team, the CAD Engineer develops detail designs for chassis systems, producing 3D models and PMI drawings for components and systems within the chassis area. Working closely with Integration, Manufacturing, and CAE engineers, this role ensures that parameterized CAD models remain current in the Vehicle Assembly Structure while mentoring other CAD Design Engineers on the team.

Engineering Responsibilities

• Produce 3D models and PMI drawings for different components and systems within the chassis area.
• Create assemblies for systems and perform kinematic and envelope analysis at both system and sub-system levels.
• Maintain and update CAD models in the Vehicle Assembly Structure.
• Work in Siemens NX environment supported by Teamcenter using parameterized modeling.
• Mentor other CAD Design Engineers within the team.
• Interact closely with departments including Integration, Manufacturing, and CAE engineers.

Professional Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the Automotive industry.
• Proficiency in Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
• Knowledge of automotive chassis systems design is a merit.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Dedicated team player with an innovative and proactive problem-solving approach.

Reporting to the technology and foundry teams, the IC CAD Engineer supports, enhances, and maintains PDKs and Analog and Mixed-Signal design tools, developing automation software and providing hands-on training for design and layout engineers. Partnering with EDA vendors and Technology Foundry teams, this role ensures that tool-related issues are properly characterized and resolved to maintain uninterrupted design workflows.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Support, enhance, and maintain PDKs and various Analog and Mixed-Signal design tools.
• Develop software for automation using SKILL, Perl, and Unix Shell scripting.
• Create documentation and provide hands-on training for design and layout engineers.
• Work with EDA vendors to track and resolve issues.
• Work with Technology Foundry teams to facilitate debugging and proper characterization of tool-related issues.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science with 5 years of EDA experience.
• Expertise in CAD tools including ICADV 20.1, Cadence ADE-L and XL, Maestro, Spectre, Virtuoso Layout, Quantus QRC, Voltus-Fi APS and EMIR, EMX, Synopsys HSPICE, Finesim, StarRC, Quickcap, and Mentor Calibre and PERC.
• Domain expertise in RCX, EM and IR, Substrate-Noise and Crosstalk, and Aging and SHE circuit simulation.
• Solid background in programming, circuit design, and device physics.
• Experience in all phases of CAD tools from evaluation, QA, test, release, and user support to documentation.
• Expert in Cadence SKILL, Perl, and Unix Shell utilities.

A key member of the silicon CAD infrastructure team, the CAD Engineer develops and maintains automation flows for project database deployment, IP reuse, and front-end design infrastructure across all silicon projects. Collaborating with other CAD engineers, this role optimizes internal compute and disk resources and delivers new automated methodologies from specification through deployment to improve team efficiency.

Work Activities

• Develop and maintain existing automation and infrastructure for project database deployment and maintenance.
• Enhance and deploy tools and flows that enable IP reuse across projects and teams.
• Optimize and improve existing flows to better apply internal resources including disk and compute.
• Develop new front-end infrastructure automated flows and methodologies from specification to deployment.
• Support and maintain existing FE and DV automation and infrastructure across all silicon projects.
• Work with other CAD engineers to integrate solutions into other flows.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical field.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience.
• Expertise in coding in Python or PERL.
• Experience automating and supporting revision control systems.
• Experience with infrastructure and CI and CD automation tools is a plus.
• Experience as a Perforce administrator is a plus.
• Excellent communication, debug, and root-causing skills with ability to provide direct customer support.

CAD Engineer creates detailed layout drawings and bills of materials for refractory and insulation applications in Petrochemical and Iron and Steel industrial facilities, using AutoCAD and SolidWorks. The work directly supports accurate engineering documentation for internal teams and external clients operating in demanding heavy-industry environments.

Job Functions

• Create drawings using CAD and SolidWorks for refractory and insulation for industrial facilities in Petrochemical or Iron and Steel plants.
• Design refractory layouts using AutoCAD and SolidWorks.
• Create layout drawings of refractory and insulation in drawings of relevant industrial equipment.
• Create bill of materials based on engineering drawings.
• Work closely with internal and external clients and colleagues.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Shipbuilding, Marine, or Mechanical Engineering.
• 3 years of experience in Petrochemical, EPC, Engineering, or Refractory industry preferred, with new graduates also considered.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD.
• Strong market knowledge in Petrochemical or Iron and Steel industry is a plus.
• Fluency in English with strong presentation and negotiation skills.

As the CAD Engineer, this role creates 3D models of heating substations and individual components in CAD software while producing technical documentation and leading change control tasks for the Design Department. The design team relies on this work to support continuous process improvement and maintain precise, production-ready documentation aligned with quality standards.

Operational Focus

• Create 3D models of heating substations and single components in CAD software.
• Perform technical documentation for the production department.
• Produce AV Functional Wiring Diagrams for AV Install with guidance from the project team and CAD Lead.
• Participate in projects for continuous improvement of processes and efficiency of the Design Department.
• Lead change control tasks and problem-solving using quality tools.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• 3 years of experience working with CAD software, specifically Creo Parametric.
• Knowledge of the heating industry is an asset.
• Knowledge of ERP systems such as SAP is a plus.
• Very good command of English in both writing and speech.
• Ability to work with high attention to detail and great interpersonal skills.

CAD Engineer produces and revises facility system drawings including P and ID and layouts for life sciences manufacturing environments, working with engineering and design teams to ensure planning processes are accurate, feasible, and compliant. Success in the position means delivering detailed design plans and procedural standards that improve overall flow and support operations in Medical Device, Pharma, and Biotech settings.

Areas of Ownership

• Create, review, and revise facility and other system drawings including P and ID and layouts.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders.
• Ensure planning processes are thorough, on track, feasible, and accurate.
• Provide detailed design plans and project framework.
• Assist in development of procedures and standards for engineering and design teams.
• Review and analyze processes to identify key issues and improve overall flow.

Position Requirements

• 3-6 years of engineering experience in Life Science, Medical Device, Pharma, or Biotech.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing facility systems.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong analytical, project management, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.