Standard Cell & Bitcell Layout Engineer

Project

Work done for a product or program.

• Design SRAM bitcell, sense amplifier, wordline driver and array periphery layouts at or near the foundry's minimum-rule density limits.
• Implement I/O pad cells, level shifters and ESD-integrated pads consistent with the pad ring and package bump map.
• Lay out high-speed custom datapaths and clock structures where symmetry and wire-length matching are performance-limiting.
• Drive layout density and area-shrink projects using pushed rules negotiated with the foundry and validated on test structures.
• Close DRC, LVS, antenna, litho hotspot and DFM checks including lithography simulation feedback in advanced nodes.
• Generate and validate abstract, LEF, GDS and Liberty-consistent physical views for downstream place-and-route.
• Collaborate with the foundry and DTCO teams on design-rule waivers, restricted design rules and early-node layout feasibility.
• Support post-silicon failure analysis by providing layout cross-references and supporting FIB edit planning.

Function

Work that keeps the discipline running: methods, tools, suppliers and people.

• Lay out standard cell libraries to the track height and pin-access rules of the target node, including multi-patterning colouring compliance.
• Automate repetitive layout construction with SKILL, Python and PDK-based generators for scalable array structures.

Project

1. Produce and hand over the role's key deliverables
   • DRC/LVS-clean standard cell, bitcell and I/O layouts
   • LEF/abstract and GDS views validated for place-and-route
   • Density and area benchmarking report versus target
   • Layout generators and automation scripts
   • Design-rule waiver and litho hotspot resolution log
2. Implement the layoutGeneral
   • Floorplan and plan the power grid
   • Place, build the clock tree and route
   • Run extraction and analysis
3. Close sign-offGeneral
   • Close timing at every corner
   • Clear DRC and LVS
   • Complete the sign-off checklist

Function

1. Maintain the flowGeneral
   • Update scripts and flow settings
   • Qualify new tool versions
2. Share knowledgeGeneral
   • Document fixes for recurring issues
   • Train newer engineers on the flow