Amazon logo
Amazon Verified
E-commerce

Sr. PD Methodology Engineer, Annapurna Labs - Cloud Scale Machine Learning

Austin, TXOnsiteFull TimeSenior$159,200–$215,300 /yrPosted 2 months agoVisa sponsorship available

Is this role right for you?

Upload your resume and get a skill-by-skill breakdown — see exactly where you match, where you're close, and what to highlight. Not a mystery percentage.

Get a tailored resume highlighting what this role needs.

Required skills

  • ML Accelerator chips
  • RTL2GDS
  • PPA
  • TAT
  • EDA tool vendors
  • cloud infrastructure
  • compute utilization
  • storage utilization
  • RTL
  • Physical Design

Nice to have

  • RTL coding
  • debug
  • performance analysis
  • power analysis
  • area analysis
  • trade-offs

Role summary

Annapurna Labs, part of Amazon Utility Computing, is seeking a Sr. PD Methodology Engineer for their Cloud Scale Machine Learning Acceleration team. This role focuses on designing and optimizing hardware, including custom chips like AWS Inferentia and Trainium Systems, for ML acceleration in AWS data centers. The engineer will define, develop, and deploy physical design and verification methodologies (RTL2GDS), drive optimizations for PPA and TAT, collaborate with EDA vendors, and fine-tune cloud infrastructure. Responsibilities include scripting (TCL, Python), troubleshooting digital tool flows, and creating project tracking dashboards. The role requires extensive experience in ASIC implementation, synthesis, STA, physical design, digital design, verification, and automation frameworks, with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.

Annapurna Labs (our organization within Amazon Utility Computing) designs silicon and software that accelerates innovation. Customers choose us to create cloud solutions that solve challenges that were unimaginable a short time ago—even yesterday. Our custom chips, accelerators, and software stacks enable us to take on technical challenges that have never been seen before, and deliver results that help our customers change the world.

Amazon provides a highly reliable, scalable, low-cost infrastructure platform in the cloud that powers hundreds of thousands of businesses in 190 countries around the world. We have data center locations in the U.S., Europe, Singapore, and Japan, and customers across all industries.

Custom SoCs (System on Chip) live at the heart of Amazon Machine Learning servers. As a member of the Cloud-Scale Machine Learning Acceleration team you’ll be responsible for the design and optimization of hardware in our data centers including AWS Inferentia, Trainium Systems (our custom designed machine learning inference and training datacenter servers). Our success depends on our world-class server infrastructure; we’re handling massive scale and rapid integration of emergent technologies. We’re looking for an ASIC Physical Design Methodology Engineer to help us trail-blaze new technologies and architectures, while ensuring high design quality and making the right trade-offs.

Key job responsibilities
Define, develop and deploy innovative physical design and verification methodologies (RTL2GDS) for ML Accelerator chips in advanced nodes

Drive Optimizations in CAD flows/methodologies for PPA and TAT improvements

Work with EDA tool vendors to evaluate new methods, resolve bugs, improve usability.

Fine tune cloud infrastructure to improve compute and storage utilization for physical design work.

Interface directly with RTL, Physical Design, Package Design, DFT teams to improve methodologies and efficiencies.

Be able to independently troubleshoot digital tool flow usage and deploy solutions;

Fluent in scripting languages such as TCL, Python, etc. and able to build scalable and efficient flows to support parallel design developments

Create Dashboard and Central reports for project tracking and visualizing QoR/stats

A day in the life

Basic Qualifications: - 7+ years of ASIC implementation, synthesis, STA and physical design in deep sub-micron nodes (16nm or smaller) experience
- 7+ years of digital design in communication systems experience
- 7+ years of full-custom analog or RF layout experience
- 7+ years of wireless communications systems and implementation experience
- 8+ years of creating and maintaining automation frameworks for Post-Silicon Flow experience
- 7+ years of verification in communication systems experience
- 5+ years of UVM, C, System C, and scripting experience
- 3+ years of emulation experience
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field
- Knowledge of UVM and Matlab
- Knowledge of implementing chips with multiple power islands and power gating
- Knowledge of multiple access systems including OFDMA, TDMA, and CDMA
- Knowledge of end-to-end network system architecture from wireless physical layer to application endpoints
- Knowledge of serial protocols including SPI, I2C, I3C, and UART
- Knowledge of Python and Embedded C programming
- Experience in communication theory, OFDM, MIMO, Digital/Wireless Communication Systems or RF engineering
- Experience with current and upcoming RF standards in cellular (4G/5G), WiMAX, 802.11ad, microwave backhaul, DVB-S2 / DVB-C, or related broadband wireless standards
- Experience leading or solely developing methodology and scripts for physical synthesis
- Experience taping out chips that have gone into high volume production
- Experience developing products for volume production
- Experience low power design techniques
- Experience delivering products to volume production
- Experience in modem L1/L2 algorithms development and architectures
- Experience in developing link and system level simulators using MATLAB, Python, or C++
- Experience in test setup automation using MATLAB, Python, or Pearl
- Experience with Agile, TDD, BDD, CI, and Git
- Experience developing PHY/MAC layer HW/SW targeting SoCs, FPGAs, and general-purpose processors
- Experience leading technical initiatives and key deliverables
- Experience with version control systems and CI/CD pipeline implementation
- Experience in Bare Metal Environment development, including linker scripts, page tables and NVIC Preferred Qualifications: - Master's degree or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
- Experience in RTL coding and debug, as well as performance, power, area analysis and trade-offs
- Experience with modern ASIC/FPGA design and verification tools
- Experience with SOC bring-up and post-silicon validation

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.



USA, TX, Austin - 159,200.00 - 215,300.00 USD annually

Sample Amazon interview questions

  • 1

    Implement Search a 2D Matrix

    codingtechnicalmedium
  • 2

    Implement LRU Cache

    codingtechnicalmedium
  • 3

    Implement Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock

    codingtechnicaleasy
  • 4

    Implement Flood Fill

    codingtechnicaleasy
  • 5

    Implement Top K Frequent Elements

    codingtechnicalmedium

Get started to unlock a personalized interview prep pack for this role.

Ready to apply?
You'll be redirected to Amazon's application page.

Similar roles

See how RiseMe works

Match, tailor, and prep so you send fewer applications and land more interviews.