Design Enablement Engineer – Semiconductor Technology & Automation

  • Yorktown Heights

    Albany

  • Infrastructure & Technology
  • Professional

Design Enablement Engineer – Semiconductor Technology & Automation

  • Yorktown Heights

    Albany

  • Infrastructure & Technology
  • Professional

Introduction
As a Hardware Developer at IBM, you’ll get to work on the systems that are driving the quantum revolution and the AI era. Join an elite team of engineering professionals who enable IBM customers to make better decisions quicker on the most trusted hardware platform in today’s market.

Your Role and Responsibilities
At IBM Research, we invent things that matter to the world. Today, we are pioneering the most promising and disruptive technologies that will transform industries and society, including the future of AI, Blockchain and Quantum Computing. We are driven to discover. With more than 3,000 researchers in 12 labs located across six continents, IBM Research is one of the world’s largest and most influential corporate research labs.

We are seeking a skilled Design Enablement Engineer to join our team, supporting our production takeout operations for advanced semiconductor technology nodes. This role is central to IBM Research’s design and tape-out activities, focusing on post-design retargeting data manipulation, automation in design services, and development of scripts and algorithms for data processing. You will develop code to optimize design layouts for improved tape-out processing, enhancing process yield and printability in advanced technology research and development.

Key Responsibilities:
• Design Retargeting and Data Manipulation: Develop and execute post-design retargeting techniques, creating data manipulation scripts and algorithms to streamline and optimize layout design for advanced tape-out processing and improve production outcomes.
• Automated Design Services and Layout Optimization: Implement automated solutions for layout data operations, kerf/scribe layout development, and data processing. Utilize EDA tools (Synopsys ICWB, Cadence Virtuoso) to create and refine design layouts for effective
tape-out and processing.
• Data Processing and Automation Development: Write, test, and deploy scripts in Python, and Unix/Linux Shell to support and automate data processing in tape-out operations. Focus on improving operational efficiency, yield, and printability of production designs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with technology and design teams to ensure that automation solutions align with production requirements, utilizing your understanding of physical layout and semiconductor technology ground rules to optimize design enablement processes.
• Design Rules and Layout Verification: Perform design rule checking (DRC) and layout verification using industry-standard tools. Ensure compliance with design specifications and technology ground rules to meet quality standards.
• Debugging and Problem-Solving: Identify and resolve design issues, layout errors, and data processing challenges.​​​​​​• Use diagnostic skills to troubleshoot errors and refine processes within a collaborative team setting.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related field with 3+ years of experience in VLSI chip development or semiconductor technology.
• Proficiency with at least one EDA tool vendor (Synopsys ICWB, Cadence Virtuoso) with 3+ years of design experience.
• Coding experience with scripting languages (Python, Unix/Linux Shell) for automation purposes, with 3+ years of experience.
• Demonstrated communication and collaboration skills to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities in a collaborative environment.

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

  • Masters Degree

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About Business Unit

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines ‘What’s Next in Computing’ to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.


Your Life @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?


About IBM

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 50 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.


Location Statement

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

– Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being
– Financial programs such as 401(k), cash balance pension plan, the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs.
– Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law.
– Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals.
– Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences.

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.


Being You @ IBM

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Key Job Details

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