{"id":652398,"url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-senior-asic-physical-design-engineer-2","title":"Senior 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":209,"ghost_share":0.167,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":88,"computed_at":"2026-11-03T05:54:40Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","seniority":"senior","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":170000,"max":250000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":250000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Synopsys Fusion Compiler","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-01T16:06:59Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-22","last_verified_at":"2026-11-03T11:04:29Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":124,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":124},"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 seeking a Senior ASIC Physical Design Engineer to help implement advanced SoCs that power next-generation satellite and space systems. In this role, you will contribute to the full physical design flow-from synthesis to GDSII-working closely with architecture, RTL, verification, and packaging teams. 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 \nExecute the complete physical design flow for complex SoC blocks and top-level integration, including synthesis, floorplanning, place & route, CTS, STA, and physical verification. \nPerform timing closure and optimization across multiple corners and modes using industry-standard tools. \nCollaborate with front-end, verification, and DFT teams to ensure clean handoff and predictable convergence. \nWork with external physical design service providers and internal leads to review deliverables, resolve issues, and ensure schedule alignment. \nDevelop and maintain scripts and automation to improve flow efficiency and consistency. \nSupport physical sign-off activities including DRC/LVS, IR drop, EM, and power analysis. \nAssist in chip-level integration, ECOs, and tapeout preparation. \nContribute to methodology development, tool evaluation, and flow documentation. \nSupport your product through production and spaceflight. \nRequired Qualifications \nBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field. \n5-10 years of experience in ASIC physical design for complex SoCs. \nHands-on experience with industry-standard tools (Synopsys ICC2/Fusion Compiler, Cadence Innovus, or equivalent). \nStrong understanding of timing analysis, power optimization, and physical verification flows. \nExperience with hierarchical or flat SoC design methodologies. \nFamiliarity with FinFET technologies. \nWorking knowledge of DFT, UPF/CPF power intent, and ECO implementation. \nStrong problem-solving skills and ability to work cross-functionally in fast-paced environments. \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 with sign-off 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 $170,000 - $250,000 + 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":6110,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"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":38,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.869,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":124,"expected_fill_days":88,"reasons":["conf:3","velocity","win:tail","crowd:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-11-03T05:54:40Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":250000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-senior-asic-physical-design-engineer-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/k2-space-senior-asic-physical-design-engineer-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-03T15:40:22Z","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":21811,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-04T00:00:00Z"}},"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-senior-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-senior-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-senior-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-senior-asic-physical-design-engineer-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fk2-space-senior-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":652398}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"k2space.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":652398},"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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