Hardware Engineer, Physical Design

Normal Computing | Incredible Opportunities

The Normal Team builds foundational software and hardware that help move technology forward - supporting the semiconductor industry, critical AI infrastructure, and the broader systems that power our world. We work as one team across New York, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and London.

Your Role in Our Mission:

As a Physical Design Engineer at Normal, you will work closely with the silicon and hardware R&D team to develop and implement novel thermodynamic computing architectures. You will have significant ownership of chip floorplanning, top-level integration, and signoff, with the goal of delivering reliable silicon and achieving first-silicon-success.

Responsibilities:

• Lead physical design for a novel silicon-based computing architecture through tape-out and iteration.

• Implement full chip and layout blocks. Procure and integrate IP.

• Own and evolve the physical design flow end to end, including tool selection, methodology definition, automation, and continuous improvement

• Translate unconventional architectural and circuit concepts into robust, manufacturable layouts, making tradeoffs across PPA and feasibility

• Drive floorplanning, power delivery, clocking, and implementation.

• Partner with architecture, circuit, modeling, and systems teams to co-design hardware and physical implementation.

• Develop custom scripts, checks, and analysis tools (Tcl/Python or similar) to enable rapid experimentation and design space exploration.

• Act as a technical leader in a fast-moving startup environment, mentoring others and helping shape long-term silicon and methodology strategy.

What Makes You A Great Fit:

• Experience working on AI accelerators, novel or non-traditional computing architectures.

• Background that blends research and production (e.g., research tape-outs, internal tools, early-node or first-of-kind silicon)

• Evidence of first-principles thinking in physical design, rather than reliance on established flows.

• Contributions to flow development, methodology papers, internal tools, or open-source EDA/software projects.

• Experience in startup environments or small, high-ownership teams.

• Comfort collaborating across disciplines (architecture, circuits, modeling, systems, or packaging).

• Demonstrated mentorship or technical leadership beyond individual contribution.

What Elevates Your Application:

• 7+ years of experience in silicon physical design, or equivalent depth demonstrated through complex tape-outs, research prototypes, or unconventional design work.

• Proven ownership of physical design flows and methodologies, beyond execution within an existing flow.

• Strong hands-on experience with place & route, timing closure, and physical signoff, even when constraints or architectures are non-standard.

• Proficiency in scripting and automation (Tcl, Python, or similar) to build and evolve custom PD flows.

• Ability to operate independently in an ambiguous, fast-moving R&D environment and drive work from concept to silicon.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Normal Computing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility Accommodations

Normal Computing is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let us know at [email protected].

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