EnCharge AI

Senior Staff / Principal SOC Floorplan Lead at EnCharge AI (Bengaluru, India)

EnCharge AI· Bengaluru, India·

Job description

The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and hands-on SoC Floorplan Lead to own the physical foundation of our next-generation AI and Data Center SoCs. In this critical role, you will be the bridge between architecture, logic design, and physical design. You will work hand-in-hand with Chip Architects and RTL Leads to influence micro-architecture and ensure the physical implementation achieves best-in-class Power, Performance, and Area (PPA).

If you love solving complex spatial puzzles on advanced technology nodes, integrating sensitive analog components, and driving execution in a high-energy start-up environment, this is the role for you.

Key Responsibilities

- Top-Level Floorplanning: Own the SoC-level floorplan from concept to tape-out for high-performance, large-scale AI/Data Center chips on advanced process nodes (e.g., 5nm, 3nm or below).

- Architecture & RTL Collaboration: Partner closely with Architecture and RTL teams to provide early physical feasibility feedback. Drive block partitioning, shape optimization, and data-flow planning to achieve the absolute best PPA.

- Bump & Package Co-Design: Lead bump planning and IO ring definition. Work with packaging teams on flip-chip/advanced packaging constraints, ensuring optimal signal escape and power delivery.

- Custom & Analog Routing: Manage the placement and custom routing strategies for critical Analog/Mixed-Signal (AMS) IPs, high-speed SerDes (PCIe, Ethernet, Memory interfaces), PLLs, and sensitive clock distributions.

- Power Delivery Network (PDN): Design and analyze the top-level power grid, ensuring robust power delivery for high-current AI workloads while minimizing IR drop.

- Pin Assignment & Feedthroughs: Manage macro placement, block-level pin assignments, and top-level feedthrough planning to optimize global timing and routing congestion.

- Methodology Development: Build and maintain scalable Floorplanning workflows and scripts (Tcl, Python) tailored for a lean, fast-moving start-up team.

Required Skills & Qualifications

- Experience: 12 + years of hands-on experience in Physical Design SoC Floor planning preferably in Datacenter domain, with at least 3 years acting as a lead or primary owner of SoC-level Floorplanning.

- Domain Expertise: Proven track record of taping out large, complex chips—specifically for Data Center, Networking, or AI/Machine Learningapplications.

- Start-Up Mentality: Highly driven, self-motivated, and comfortable with ambiguity. You take extreme ownership of your domain, pivot quickly when needed, and roll up your sleeves to get things done.

- Technical Depth:

- Deep understanding of how RTL structures and architectural decisions impact physical design PPA.

- Extensive experience with bump planning, flip-chip package requirements, and die-to-package co-optimization.

- Strong knowledge of analog/mixed-signal IP integration, shielding, and custom routing constraints.

- Expertise with industry-standard physical design tools ( Cadence Innovus).

- Education: BS, MS, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with multi-die / chiplet integration (2.5D, 3D packaging, interposers, UCIe).

- Strong scripting and automation skills (Tcl, Python, Perl, Makefile).

- Knowledge of advanced clocking architectures (H-trees, meshes) for highly synchronous AI fabrics.

What We Offer

- Impact: The opportunity to build ground-up architecture and see your ideas taped out in cutting-edge silicon.

- Equity: Competitive start-up equity packages—when the company wins, you win.

- Culture: A flat, collaborative, and bureaucracy-free environment surrounded by top-tier industry veterans.

Why work at EnCharge AI

  • Mission-Driven Impact: Opportunity to make AI accessible to the “99%” by dramatically reducing energy and cost barriers. Work is cited as a “once-in-a-lifetime” chance by leadership.
  • World-Class Team: Colleagues include industry luminaries from Princeton, IBM, and top semiconductor houses; 57% of staff are in technical roles (engineering, research, compiler).
  • Culture of Collaboration & Innovation: The careers page highlights integrity, growth, and collaborative problem-solving in a fast-paced startup environment.
  • Comprehensive Rewards: Benefits package includes typical startup perks; equity likely offered given funding stage.
  • Work Policy: Hybrid presence indicated by offices in Santa Clara, Canada, Germany, Norway, South Korea, and India. Remote flexibility likely for some roles.
  • Active Hiring: 39 open positions across DFT, physical design, compiler engineering, and NPU architecture – strong signal of scaling and technical investment.

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