At Synopsys, you will be the technical authority that field teams and customers rely on when modeling gets hard. The problems are real, the technology nodes are advanced, and what you build will directly affect whether a customer can tape out on time.
What You'll Be Doing
Calibrate and validate semiconductor models for advanced process nodes working directly with customer wafer data, test structures, and characterization results
Generate and maintain compact models used in customer OPC engagements, ensuring accuracy and performance across lithography workflows
Debug complex modeling issues at customer sites, working with Field Applications Engineers to resolve calibration failures, data quality problems, and deployment blockers
Build and maintain automated validation and regression environments that catch model quality issues before they reach customers
Collaborate with R&D and Product Engineering to translate field requirements into product enhancements, contributing directly to roadmap discussions and feature prioritization
Deliver technical training and enablement to customers, supporting evaluations, benchmarks, and proof-of-concept work that drives technology adoption
Develop best practices, methodology documentation, and workflow automation that improve modeling productivity across the field organization
The Impact You Will Have
Customers will tape out faster because the models you deliver are accurate, validated, and ready to deploy in production OPC flows
Field teams will resolve modeling issues in days instead of weeks because you have built the debug frameworks and knowledge base they need
Product releases will better reflect real customer needs because you are the bridge between what breaks in the field and what gets prioritized in development
Model quality across the organization will improve because the automated regression systems you build catch issues early and consistently
Strategic accounts will adopt new Synopsys modeling technologies faster because you have proven they work in their specific process context
Junior engineers across field and product teams will grow their modeling expertise because you mentor through real problems, not abstract theory
The company will make better technical bets because your field experience informs which modeling approaches actually scale in production environments
What You'll Need
M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Semiconductor Engineering, or a related technical field
8+ years building, calibrating, or validating semiconductor device models in TCAD, SPICE, or lithography modeling contexts
Deep understanding of semiconductor device physics and how process technology choices affect model behavior and accuracy
Experience developing compact models and working through calibration methodologies that balance accuracy, runtime, and usability
Proven track record supporting customer-facing technical engagements where you were the expert in the room solving real deployment problems
Programming capability in Python, Tcl, Perl, or similar scripting languages is a strong plus, especially for automation and workflow development
Experience applying machine learning techniques to modeling or characterization work is a differentiator
Who You Are
You can walk into a customer meeting with incomplete wafer data and a calibration that failed overnight, and walk out with a plan that gets the engagement back on track
When a model does not match silicon, you do not guess. You methodically work through test structures, process assumptions, and measurement noise until you find the root cause
You know how to influence without authority. Product teams listen to you because your feedback is specific, grounded in field reality, and comes with a clear technical rationale
Mentoring happens naturally for you. When a field engineer is stuck on a modeling issue, you do not just fix it, you show them how to think through the next one
You can present a complex modeling tradeoff to a VP in two sentences without losing the nuance, and then turn around and debug a Tcl script with an engineer
Working across time zones and organizations does not slow you down. You are organized enough to manage multiple customer engagements, product discussions, and internal projects without dropping threads
The Team You'll Be Part Of
You will be part of the Field Applications Engineering organization supporting semiconductor modeling across strategic customer accounts in the US. This role collaborates closely with product engineering teams in Sunnyvale and Hillsboro, R&D groups developing next-generation lithography solutions, and field teams deployed at foundries and leading-edge semiconductor companies. You will be based in Austin, TX, with regular interaction across Synopsys sites and customer locations as technical needs require.
Rewards and Benefits
We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.
