CAD Flow Engineer, Physical Implementation & Sign Off, AI Hardware

What to Expect

The Tesla AI Hardware team is at the forefront of revolutionizing artificial intelligence through cutting-edge hardware innovation. Comprising brilliant engineers and visionaries, the team designs and develops advanced AI inference chips tailored to accelerate Tesla’s machine learning capabilities. A key part of this effort is Dojo, Tesla's custom supercomputer system built to efficiently train massive neural networks on vast video data from the fleet. The work of Tesla's AI Hardware team powers the neural networks behind Full Self-Driving (FSD), and Tesla humanoid robot, Optimus, pushing the boundaries of computational efficiency and performance. By creating custom silicon and optimized architectures, the team ensures Tesla remains a leader in AI-driven automotive and energy solutions, shaping a future where intelligent machines enhance human life. Tesla's AI Hardware Team is looking for experienced, highly skilled VLSI engineers who enjoy working across the logic, circuit, methodology, and physical design levels. Our physical design team is growing to tackle a wider range of projects, building on our in-house SOC design expertise. This position entails the design, construction and integration of SOCs, IP, circuits, tool flows, and methodologies into systems using advanced technologies - from definition through characterization.

Our AI Hardware engineering team builds and maintains the end-to-end CAD infrastructure that powers tapeout for complex SoC and 3D IC designs. As a Staff CAD Flow Engineer, you will own the development, deployment, and continuous improvement of implementation and signoff flows — from RTL to GDS. You will be at the center of how we scale design productivity and PPA optimization using agentic AI-driven flows.

What You'll Do

• Build and maintain RTL-to-GDS implementation flows including synthesis, placement, routing, and signoff integration
• Own CTS flow development and optimization — tune clock tree strategies to achieve PPA targets across frequency, power, and area
• Develop and manage ECO flows — functional ECOs, timing ECOs, and metal-only ECOs — with robust LEC validation at each stage
• Set up and validate electrical analysis flows including static/dynamic IR drop, EM, and power analysis integration within the implementation flow
• Develop power intent flows — implement and validate UPF/CPF-driven multi-voltage domain strategies through synthesis and P&R
• Maintain parasitic extraction flows and ensure correlation between implementation and signoff tools
• Build MMMC timing flows — manage corner and mode configuration for setup, hold, and signoff convergence
• Integrate physical verification (DRC/LVS) and formal equivalence checking (LEC) as continuous checkpoints within the flow
• Develop and deploy agentic AI flows to automate flow execution, detect bottlenecks, triage violations, and drive closure decisions without manual intervention
• Evaluate and adopt new EDA tool capabilities — drive tool bring-up, qualification, and regression benchmarking

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent work experience
• 5+ years of CAD flow development and physical implementation experience on complex SoCs
• Deep expertise in CTS methodologies and clock architecture optimization for PPA
• Hands-on experience with industry P&R and synthesis tools (Innovus, Genus, Fusion Compiler, or equivalent)
• Strong command of ECO methodologies — timing, functional, and metal ECO flows through tapeout
• Experience building power analysis and power intent flows (UPF/CPF, multi-voltage)
• Proficiency with signoff integration — STA, EMIR, DRC/LVS, and parasitic extraction within a unified flow
• Ability to develop, deploy, and scale agentic AI flows for design automation and autonomous closure

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program

Expected Compensation

$128,000 - $312,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.