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careers@nuvacore.aiCPU Custom Memory Design - SRAMs and Register Files
Full-time · US (Santa Clara, CA / Austin, TX) · IC
Nuvacore is building ground-up high performance, low-power CPU for next-generation compute workloads. As a member of the CPU-specific custom circuit design team, you will enable the design to achieve the target PPA specifications for the product.
THE ROLE
As a Custom Memory Design Engineer, you will participate in the following:
- Own schematic development and characterize custom memories (SRAM, register files) to optimize PPA at advanced process nodes.
- Supervise layout implementation, defining macro floor planning, critical routing specifications, and driving physical design verification (PDV) closure.
- Own end-to-end memory IP signoff: schematic and layout through DRC/LVS/antenna, parasitic extraction, and characterization (timing, power, and noise in Liberty/CCS format) across PVT corners, meeting target PPA commitments.
- Partner with Foundry/PDK, CAD, Physical Design, RTL and DFT teams to benchmark new process technology, validate IP on testchips, and co-optimize custom memories for downstream design PPA.
- Collaborate closely with RTL, providing explicit custom memory functional specifications, timing behaviors, and state definitions to support accurate RTL modeling.
- Define and drive adoption of Tools, Flows, and Methodology (TFM) — including characterization automation and compiler QA — to raise design efficiency and set team-wide best practices.
Requirements - Must Have
- Hold a BS or MS degree with 8+ years of experience in custom memory circuit design - SRAMs, and/or Register files.
- Hands-on transistor-level circuit design experience with combo cells, sequential logic in static/dynamic logic families, as well as memory arrays — bit cells, sense amps, decoders — in advanced CMOS nodes.
- Deep knowledge of SPICE simulations, SRAMs / Register File circuit margins, and special memory cells architecture.
- Proficient with industry-standard EDA tools for schematic, layout, extraction, and characterization, applied to custom memory design workflows.
- Demonstrated track record delivering production-level custom memory IP through tape-out, with silicon-validated PPA in high-volume products.
- Deep understanding of end-to-end signoff for custom memories — DRC/LVS/antenna, extraction, Spice margins, STA, EM/IR — and characterization flows spanning timing, power, and noise.
- Well-versed in STA and Liberty/CCS lib model development and correlation, including timing and power characterization for both Functional and DFT (Design for Test) modes.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, comfortable working directly with foundry, CAD, and physical design partner teams.
Requirements - Nice to Have
- Substantial experience across the full embedded memory design flow — architecture, circuit design, physical implementation, compiler automation, characterization, and timing/model generation.
- Experience designing and optimizing complex memory sub-blocks (self timed design tracking loops, read/write assist schemes, power-gating headers) and translating PDK device characteristics into cell/bit-cell circuit decisions.
- Proven PPA-focused execution, including SRAM architecture trade-offs, critical-path modeling, full-cut analysis, and extensive Monte Carlo variation studies.
- Demonstrated experience converging on macro verification, including functional formal equivalence (LEC) and dynamic SPICE-versus-RTL co-simulation (cosim) methods.
- Experience partnering directly with foundries on PDK bring-up and device co-optimization (DTCO) at leading-edge nodes.
- Proficient in Python, Perl, or TCL to build and improve design, characterization, and QA automation.
- Experience using Agentic AI tools for productivity and automation.