AI-Driven Physical Design Engineering (PhD Intern) - United States
$141,998 - $142,002 USD yearly
Originally posted 9 October 2026 by the employer.
About the role
This internship offers a unique opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to revolutionize the physical implementation of silicon designs. You will develop AI-powered workflows and adaptive systems to enhance execution efficiency and optimize implementation strategies.
What you'll do
- Research and implement AI/ML techniques to improve physical design processes and methodologies.
- Develop AI-enhanced workflows for high-performance silicon implementation.
- Build ML-powered data analysis and summarization pipelines for design decision-making.
- Design and implement Graph Neural Network (GNN) based systems for intelligent decision-making in design execution.
- Develop intelligent automation frameworks using Python, TensorFlow or PyTorch, and scripting in TCL and Perl.
- Evaluate and benchmark AI-driven methodologies against traditional approaches to demonstrate improvements in PPA.
What you'll need
- Enrolled in a PhD program in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Proficiency in industry-standard tools for physical design, including synthesis, place and route, and timing analysis software.
- Familiarity with scripting languages like Python or TCL for flow automation and debugging.
- Understanding of digital design concepts and methodologies, including RTL design and verification.
Nice to have
- Understanding of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) or graph-based algorithms.
- Experience with data analysis tools (Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib).
- Knowledge of reinforcement learning concepts for design optimization.
- Strong Python programming skills with ML application experience.
- Background in EDA tools and physical design fundamentals.
Skills: AI/ML techniques, physical design, Graph Neural Network, flow automation, PPA
This role has been open 6 days — well below the 36-day median for EDA/CAD Engineering roles.
EDA/CAD Engineering · AI EDA Design
|
Open roles in category
62
|
Median days open
36 d
|
Median salary
$203k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Intel Corporation | All employers we track in this specialty (62 roles · 23 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 1 | 62 |
| Open roles in the wider Physical Implementation family | 60 | 1449 · 108 employers |
| Median days open | 6 d | 36 d (−30 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $203k |
Skills observed across this category: AI/ML techniques, physical design, Graph Neural Network, flow automation, PPA
Who's hiring in this category
- NXP Semiconductors · 13 open roles · median 57 d
- NVIDIA · 8 open roles · median 29 d
- Keysight Technologies · 6 open roles · median 16 d
- Cadence Design Systems · 5 open roles · median 69 d
- Skyworks · 3 open roles · median 1 d
- Synopsys · 3 open roles · median 41 d
How we counted: 62 open EDA/CAD Engineering (AI EDA Design) roles from 23 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 16 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Physical Implementation family row. Figures refresh nightly.