R&D Engineering, Staff Engineer
Originally posted 30 August 2026 by the employer.
Work on computational lithography models within the Proteus product line.
About the role
This role involves building software for computational lithography models, focusing on optimization techniques and model calibration for semiconductor manufacturing.
What you'll do
- Design and implement optimization techniques to reduce model calibration runtime without sacrificing accuracy, working with large-scale empirical datasets.
- Prototype and develop new mathematical models for lithography simulation, translating specifications into production-quality C++ code integrated into the Proteus product line.
- Calibrate and tune complex non-linear model parameters using statistical analysis, numerical optimization, and domain-specific heuristics.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product engineering, field support, and customer-facing teams to understand technical requirements.
- Analyze outlier data points and develop sampling strategies that improve model robustness and generalization.
- Maintain and extend existing computational lithography models, diagnosing performance bottlenecks and correctness issues.
- Work directly with field engineers and customers to troubleshoot model behavior, gather requirements, and validate solutions.
What you'll need
- PhD in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related field (recent PhD graduates encouraged to apply; PhD with 1-2 years of industry experience ideal), OR MS in a related field with approximately 5 years of directly relevant industry experience in computational modeling, optimization, or numerical methods.
- Strong programming skills in C++ for performance-critical numerical software and Python for prototyping and data analysis.
- Deep background in physical modeling, statistical analysis, and optimization methods, with hands-on experience applying these techniques to real-world problems.
- Solid foundation in numerical computation, including experience with algorithms for solving non-linear systems, parameter fitting, and convergence analysis.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets, identify patterns and outliers, and translate findings into actionable model improvements.
Nice to have
- Experience in computational lithography, optical modeling, or image processing.
- Background working on large, complex software projects with multiple contributors and long product lifecycles.
Skills: computational lithography, model calibration, optimization techniques, Proteus product line, C++
This role has been open 47 days — well below the 73-day median for EDA/CAD Engineering roles.
EDA/CAD Engineering · EDA Tools
|
Open roles in category
672
|
Median days open
73 d
|
Median salary
$195k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Synopsys | All employers we track in this specialty (672 roles · 75 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 63 | 672 |
| Open roles in the wider Physical Implementation family | 106 | 1440 · 110 employers |
| Median days open | 36 d | 73 d (−37 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $195k |
Skills observed across this category: computational lithography, model calibration, optimization techniques, Proteus product line, C++
Who's hiring in this category
- Cadence Design Systems · 153 open roles · median 170 d
- Synopsys (this employer) · 63 open roles · median 36 d
- Micron Technology · 44 open roles · median 47 d
- Qualcomm · 36 open roles · median 75 d
- GlobalFoundries · 33 open roles · median 38 d
- Keysight Technologies · 32 open roles · median 72 d
How we counted: 672 open EDA/CAD Engineering (EDA Tools) roles from 75 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 18 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.