{"id":652399,"url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2","title":"Principal ASIC Physical Design Engineer","company":{"id":171840,"name":"K2 Space","domain":"k2space.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/k2-space","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":85,"open_postings":208,"ghost_share":0.168,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":88,"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"lead","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"remote","remote_scope":"stated_countries","remote_scope_basis":"board_field","remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Los Angeles, United States","United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":["US"],"hiring_countries_total":1,"salary":{"min":190000,"max":280000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":280000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-01T16:05:38Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-22","last_verified_at":"2026-11-01T00:18:46Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":122,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":121},"description":"K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by over $1 billion in total funding from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, ICONIQ, Kleiner Perkins, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, and T. Rowe Price - and with over $1 billion in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers, we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.\nThe rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.\nWith multiple launches in 2027 and plans to scale to 100 satellites a year, we're Building Bigger - helping develop the solar system and build toward a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a high-growth Series D-funded company, we'd love for you to apply.\nThe Role\nWe are looking for a Principal ASIC Physical Design Engineer to lead the implementation of complex SoCs for next-generation satellite and space systems. You will own the full physical design flow-from RTL handoff to GDSII-and collaborate closely with architecture, RTL design, DFT, and packaging teams. This role also involves managing external physical design partners, driving tool and flow decisions, and ensuring first-pass silicon success in advanced FinFET technologies. You’ll be a key contributor in achieving timing closure, optimizing PPA, and supporting design integration with external partners. You will be part of a collaborative design team developing state-of-the-art mixed-signal SoCs to be hosted on some of the largest, most powerful, rapidly designed and rapidly manufactured satellites ever deployed in space. In your first 6 months, you will develop and implement new SoC sub-systems for satellite communications and beyond. In your first two years, you will have contributed to developing cutting-edge SoCs that will fly in space. \nResponsibilities\nOwn the complete RTL-to-GDSII flow: synthesis, floorplanning, place & route, clock tree synthesis (CTS), static timing analysis (STA), physical verification (DRC/LVS), and sign-off.\nDevelop and maintain physical design methodologies, scripts, and automation to optimize performance, power, and area (PPA).\nCollaborate with front-end and verification teams to ensure clean handoffs, timing closure, and efficient design iteration.\nDrive timing closure across multiple voltage and process corners, including sign-off with foundry-qualified tools.\nPartner with package, SI/PI, and test teams for package-aware floorplanning and chip-to-board integration.\nManage and technically guide external physical design partners and service vendors, ensuring alignment on milestones, deliverables, and quality standards.\nWork with EDA vendors to debug and optimize tool flows, and evaluate new methodologies.\nSupport chip bring-up and debug through close collaboration with post-silicon and test teams.\nSupport your product through production and spaceflight.\nRequired Qualifications \nBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.\n10+ years of experience in ASIC physical design for high-performance SoCs.\nProven end-to-end expertise in RTL-to-GDSII flows using industry tools (Synopsys, Cadence, or Siemens).\nStrong hands-on experience with timing closure, IR drop analysis, and ECO implementation.\nDeep understanding of physical design constraints for multi-clock, multi-voltage, and hierarchical SoCs.\nExperience with advanced FinFET process nodes.\nPrior experience managing or coordinating offshore/outsourced PD teams or vendors.\nFamiliarity with DFT integration, STA sign-off, and power domain implementation (UPF/CPF).\nExcellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.\nAct as technical leader and subject-matter expert helping to teach, grow, and mentor others in the team.\nPreferred Qualifications \nExposure to radiation-hardened or space-qualified ASICs.\nExperience with chip-package co-design or advanced packaging (2.5D/3D).\nFamiliarity with physical design service vendor management or offshore collaboration.\nExperience driving tapeouts through TSMC.\nExperience with Gate-All-Around technologies.\nExperience working in cross-functional, geographically distributed teams.\nCompensation and Benefits:\nBase salary range for this role is $190,000 - $280,000 + equity in the company\nSalary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level\nComprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks\nIf you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!\nIf you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.\nExport Compliance\nAs defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”\nThe person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.\nEqual Opportunity\nK2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6622,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Life insurance","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-10T20:35:41Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":39,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.891,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":121,"expected_fill_days":88,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-31T05:58:55Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":280000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-01T01:28:44Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2309,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-02T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":171840},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=171840"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/k2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fk2-space-principal-asic-physical-design-engineer-2"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":652399}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"k2space.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":652399},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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