How to Be Physical Design Verification Engineer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jul 15, 2023 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The role of a Physical Design Verification Engineer is to ensure that the design of a chip meets the required specifications and is ready for production. By verifying the layout of the chip, the engineer can identify any errors or omissions in the design that could lead to costly mistakes during manufacturing. The engineer is responsible for running tests and simulations to ensure that the chip functions as intended, while also providing feedback to the design team on any areas that may need further optimization.

This process requires a deep understanding of integrated circuit (IC) design, a knowledge of verification tools, and excellent problem-solving skills. the success of a Physical Design Verification Engineer depends on their ability to identify and correct any potential issues before the chip goes into production, thus ensuring the quality and reliability of the product.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. The first step to becoming a Physical Design Verification Engineer is to earn a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. Coursework should include classes in digital and analog circuits, computer architecture, and computer programming.
Complete an Internship. It may be helpful to complete an internship with a company in the semiconductor industry to gain hands-on experience. Internships are available at most universities and can provide valuable insight into the physical design verification process.
Earn a Master's Degree. Many employers prefer candidates with a master's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field. A master's degree program will provide more in-depth instruction and experience in the physical design verification process.
Obtain Professional Certification. Earning professional certification may enhance job prospects and prove to potential employers that the candidate has the necessary skills and experience to perform the job. Organizations such as the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) offer certification for physical design verification engineers.
Gain Professional Experience. Work experience in the field of physical design verification is essential for job prospects. Most employers prefer candidates with several years' experience in the field. Experience can be gained through internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work.

The increasing complexity of modern integrated circuits and the need for verification of their design has led to a greater demand for Physical Design Verification Engineers. The ideal candidate must possess a strong understanding of VLSI design, verification methodologies and tools, as well as design experience in digital and analog circuit design. They must also have strong problem solving skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with multiple teams.

Furthermore, the successful engineer must have the ability to interpret test results and debug complex issues, while also having a solid understanding of scripting languages such as Tcl, Perl, and Python. the ideal candidate should be committed to excellence and have a passion for creating high-quality, reliable products.

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Job Description

Develop and maintain verification test plans and strategies for digital IC designs.
Develop and execute detailed test plans to verify timing, power and signal integrity of digital designs.
Develop and maintain simulations and analysis scripts to verify and debug complex designs.
Develop and execute test cases to verify the functional operation of a design.
Develop and maintain test benches for digital designs.
Utilize static timing, power and signal integrity tools to verify the design.
Work with cross-functional teams to ensure the design meets all requirements.
Create formal reports to document results of verification activities.
Understand and debug complex timing, power and signal integrity issues in the design.
Monitor project progress and report results to management on a regular basis.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Expertise in industry-standard design verification techniques, such as assertion-based verification, constrained-random testing, functional coverage, and code coverage
Knowledge of scripting languages such as Perl, Python, or Tcl to automate design verification tasks
Proficiency in RTL design and verification tools such as VCS, Verdi, or Questa
Strong analytical and problem solving skills to debug complex designs
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively within a team
Experience with system-on-chip (SoC) design and verification
Knowledge of system-level verification methodologies such as UVM or OVM
Understanding of hardware/software co-verification concepts
Ability to develop test plans and test cases to ensure full functional coverage
Familiarity with industry standards such as IEEE 1685 for design verification

Having an eye for detail is essential for any Physical Design Verification Engineer. This professional is responsible for ensuring that a design meets all specifications, which requires a keen understanding of the design, the fabrication process, and the design rules and guidelines. Their technical expertise and attention to detail help them to identify potential issues before they become major problems.

Good communication skills are also important for this role, as they must be able to effectively explain their findings to designers or other engineers. problem-solving abilities are key, as the engineer must be able to identify and solve any design errors quickly and efficiently. By having these skills, a Physical Design Verification Engineer can help ensure that a design meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in physical design verification?
How do you debug issues that arise during physical design?
How do you handle conflicting requirements between logic and physical designs?
How would you go about designing a chip layout for a given set of specifications?
What challenges have you faced while working on physical design verification?
What tools or methodologies would you use to ensure a successful physical design verification process?
How do you ensure timing closure on complex designs?
Are you familiar with any low power physical design methods?
How do you manage different stakeholders in a physical design project?
What strategies have you employed to reduce power consumption in your designs?

Common Tools in Industry

Calibre DRC/LVS. Calibre DRC/LVS is a design rule checking (DRC) and layout vs. schematic (LVS) verification tool used to ensure the physical layout of a circuit matches the design rules and layout design intent. (eg: Designers use Calibre DRC/LVS to check for discrepancies between the layout and schematic of an integrated circuit. )
Mentor Calibre xACT. Mentor Calibre xACT is an advanced sign-off tool for physical design verification. It uses a combination of static and dynamic techniques to detect violations such as shorts, opens, netlist errors, and others. (eg: Designers use Mentor Calibre xACT to verify the layout of an integrated circuit and to ensure that it meets the design specifications. )
Synopsys Hercules. Synopsys Hercules is a physical verification tool that helps designers verify their designs against a set of design rules. It can be used to check for errors such as shorts, opens, and others. (eg: Designers use Synopsys Hercules to verify that their integrated circuits meet the design rules and specifications. )
PrimeTime. PrimeTime is a static timing analysis (STA) tool used to check the timing of a design. It is used for both pre-layout and post-layout timing analysis. (eg: Designers use PrimeTime to verify that their designs meet the specified timing requirements before fabrication. )
PrimoPro. PrimoPro is a physical verification tool used to verify the accuracy of a design. It uses a combination of static and dynamic techniques to detect violations such as shorts, opens, netlist errors, and others. (eg: Designers use PrimoPro to ensure that their integrated circuits meet the design specifications before fabrication. )

Professional Organizations to Know

IEEE Computer Society
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
International Test and Verification Conference (ITVC)
Electronic Design Automation Consortium (EDAC)
Design Automation Conference (DAC)
Formal Verification Forum (FVF)
Verification Leadership Forum (VLF)
Design & Verification Conference (DVCon)
International Symposium on Physical Design (ISPD)
Silicon Integration Initiative (Si2)

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Common Important Terms

Physical Design. A process used to create the physical representation of an integrated circuit (IC) design. It involves the placement and routing of the circuit's components on a substrate such as a silicon wafer.
Verification. The process of ensuring that the design meets its specified requirements. This can include checking that all components are correctly placed, the desired electrical connections are valid, and that the design is correct according to its specifications.
Static Timing Analysis. A verification process that checks whether the timing of circuit signals meet the design requirements. It is used to check logic paths and delays between components.
Layout Versus Schematic (LVS). A verification process that checks whether the physical layout of components (as represented in a layout) matches the logical representation of the circuit (as represented in a schematic).
Physical Verification. The process of ensuring that the physical layout of a design meets certain criteria, such as adherence to design rules and other constraints. This includes LVS, DRC, and other checks.
Design Rule Checking (DRC). A verification process that checks whether a layout adheres to certain design rules, such as minimum widths between wires and minimum spacing between components.
Functional Verification. The process of ensuring that a design performs its intended function correctly. This includes simulating the design with test vectors, running tests, and other methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary responsibility of a Physical Design Verification Engineer?

The primary responsibility of a Physical Design Verification Engineer is to ensure the accuracy and quality of integrated circuit design projects by performing design verification activities such as static and dynamic timing analysis, signal integrity analysis, and power integrity analysis.

What type of software do Physical Design Verification Engineers typically use?

Physical Design Verification Engineers typically use software such as Synopsys' PrimeTime, Cadence's Innovus, and Mentor Graphic's Calibre for static and dynamic timing analysis, signal integrity analysis, and power integrity analysis.

What type of qualifications are typically required for a Physical Design Verification Engineer?

Physical Design Verification Engineers typically need a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field, as well as experience with integrated circuit design and verification tools.

What type of tasks does a Physical Design Verification Engineer typically perform?

Physical Design Verification Engineers typically perform tasks such as static and dynamic timing analysis, signal integrity analysis, power integrity analysis, functional coverage analysis, and rule checking.

How much experience is typically necessary to become a Physical Design Verification Engineer?

Depending on the company and position, typically between two to five years of experience in integrated circuit design and verification is necessary to become a Physical Design Verification Engineer.