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Role description

Physical Design Engineer

Fortell logoFortell
WorkplaceOn-site
SenioritySenior
Salary$150,000–$250,000
LocationSan Jose, CA
Posted7/6/2026
Engineering

Fortell is building breakthrough AI-powered hearing technology that redefines how people experience sound and connect with the world. Powered by custom silicon and advances in hearing science, our hearing aids help people hear, and live, with greater clarity and confidence.

We're looking for an experienced Physical Design Engineer to help bring our next-generation custom ASICs from RTL to silicon. You'll play a critical role in delivering high-performance, low-power silicon that powers our AI-enabled hearing platform, while helping evolve the methodologies and flows that enable our engineering team to scale.

Job Responsibilities:

  • Execute synthesis, PNR, and STA for assigned partitions of ASIC chip adhering to strict schedules and design goals.
  • Work closely with architects, RTL designers, and DFT engineers to resolve implementation and signoff issues across your blocks.
  • Help close EM/IR, drive LEC and physical verification signoff for your partitions in coordination with methodology owners.
  • Partner with the design team to proactively identify and address potential physical design challenges, enabling efficient iteration and convergence.
  • Contribute to the refinement of other implementation and physical design methodologies, encompassing synthesis, place and route (PnR), electromigration and IR (EMIR), power delivery network (PDN), and logical equivalence checking (LEC).
  • Troubleshoot flow issues and collaborate with EDA vendors to resolve them as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 7+ years of hands-on experience in physical design and implementation, encompassing synthesis, PnR, timing convergence and physical verification.
  • Proficiency in utilizing Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools such as Innovus, Tempus, and Quantus, as well as a deep understanding of physical design flows and methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • 7+ years of experience in physical design roles and related activities.
  • Proven ability to adhere to tight schedules and implement low-power design techniques.
  • Experience in System-on-Chip (SoC) design and implementation.
  • Expertise in sub-7nm node technologies.
  • Familiarity with industry-standard EDA tools and their capabilities.
  • Strong scripting skills in TCL to develop custom flows and methodologies on standard EDA tools from Cadence/Synopsys.

Compensation Range: $150K - $250K

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Company info

Fortell logo

Fortell

The world's most intelligent hearing aid–restoring clarity, confidence, and connection.

Fortell is designing better hearing aids for life as it’s meant to be heard. Traditional hearing aids make everything louder but they don’t do enough to help the brain separate conversation from noise in the moments that matter. Fortell changes that. Our AI-powered hearing technology doesn’t just amplify, it clarifies. Fortell uses custom AI chips to help the brain decode speech in real time, lifting voices up above the chaos so people don’t just hear, they understand. Our mission is ambitious yet deeply personal: to restore effortless connection through better hearing. Every decision we make is grounded in cutting-edge science, human-centered design, and a commitment to improving lives at scale. We are backed by Thrive Capital, Valor Equity Partners, Founders Fund, Optum Ventures, Lux Capital, Vast Ventures, Good Friends, Positive Sum, Stonecroft, and Atreides Management. Our debut product is available now at Fortell Audiology on Park Avenue and 61st Street. We move fast, build w

Private company
Founded2021
Size51–200 employees
Industry
Medical Equipment Manufacturing
Latest fundingJul 28, 2026
Investors
Founders FundThrive CapitalValor Equity Partners

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