DFM / OPC Engineer
Shape what actually gets built—not just what gets designed.
A major IC manufacturer is building the next generation of 28nm analog and embedded technologies, and they need engineers who understand a critical truth:
At advanced nodes, designs don’t fail in theory—they fail in manufacturing.
This role sits at the center of that problem.
Why This Role Stands Out
- Direct impact on silicon yield before tapeout
- Work on computational lithography + OPC + DFM at scale
- Influence every product that goes into production
- Operate at the intersection of design, lithography, and process integration
- Be part of a team enabling millions of chips produced daily
- You’re not supporting manufacturing—you’re making it possible
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What You’ll Work On
At 28nm and below, optical distortion breaks intended designs—and fixing that is the job.
You will:
- Develop and optimize OPC models and RET strategies
- Identify and eliminate lithography hotspots and yield limiters
- Drive DFM methodologies that ensure designs print correctly the first time
- Collaborate with design, lithography, and process teams to co-optimize layouts
- Analyze wafer data and yield signatures to solve patterning challenges
- Build and improve automation flows for OPC/DFM
- Help define next-generation manufacturability standards
What “Good” Looks Like
You likely come from one of these backgrounds:
- OPC / Computational Lithography
- DFM / Yield Engineering
- Physical Design with strong DFM exposure
And you bring:
- 5+ years in OPC / DFM within semiconductor manufacturing
- Deep understanding of lithography + RET (OPC, assist features, etc.)
- Experience with tools like:
- Synopsys (Sentaurus Lithography)
- Siemens EDA (Calibre)
- ASML Brion
- Familiarity with 28nm / advanced node constraints
- Scripting experience (Python, TCL, Perl)
Nice to Have (Differentiators)
- Analog layout + DFM interaction experience
- Exposure to Cadence Virtuoso, DRC/LVS flows
- Experience applying ML/AI to lithography or DFM problems
- Strong cross-functional influence (design fab)
The Real Opportunity
This is a high-leverage role:
- Your work determines whether designs become manufacturable products
- You influence yield, cost, and scalability at production volume
- You operate in a space where few engineers have deep expertise
If you’ve worked in OPC, lithography, or DFM, you already know: This is where the hardest—and most valuable—problems are solved.
Additional Details
- Advanced Technology Development environment
- Strong cross-functional exposure
- High visibility within engineering and manufacturing teams
- Long-term impact on high-volume production platforms
Interested?
If you’ve spent time in DFM, OPC, or lithography and want to work on problems that directly impact silicon yield at scale, it’s worth a quick conversation.