Layout Methodologies Lead
Layout Methodologies Lead
Layout Methodologies Lead
ABOUT ASTRUS
ABOUT ASTRUS
ABOUT ASTRUS
📍 Location: Toronto or Waterloo, Canada
At Astrus, we are using AI to automate microchip design, starting with the biggest bottleneck, analog layout. Our mission is to radically improve global computation and empower chip designers to create the world's most advanced microchips with AI. Astrus is backed by top-tier VC firms: Khosla Ventures, HOF Capital, and 1517 Fund.
📍 Location: Toronto or Waterloo, Canada
At Astrus, we are using AI to automate microchip design, starting with the biggest bottleneck, analog layout. Our mission is to radically improve global computation and empower chip designers to create the world's most advanced microchips with AI. Astrus is backed by top-tier VC firms: Khosla Ventures, HOF Capital, and 1517 Fund.
ABOUT THE ROLE
ABOUT THE ROLE
ABOUT THE ROLE
As Layout Methodologies Lead, you’ll define how we teach our AI to think like an analog layout designer — and eventually, to outperform them.
You’ll shape the methodologies that govern how layout decisions are made inside Astrus’s Layout Game Engine: how transistors are placed, how symmetry and matching are enforced, and how constraints and design rules are encoded into the system. This role sits at the critical intersection of analog layout, EDA flows, and AI.
You’ll collaborate deeply with our AI team, software team, and analog design lead to make sure our system reflects how world-class layout actually works — and builds on it. You’ll start as an individual contributor, with the opportunity to grow into a technical leadership role.
As Layout Methodologies Lead, you’ll define how we teach our AI to think like an analog layout designer — and eventually, to outperform them.
You’ll shape the methodologies that govern how layout decisions are made inside Astrus’s Layout Game Engine: how transistors are placed, how symmetry and matching are enforced, and how constraints and design rules are encoded into the system. This role sits at the critical intersection of analog layout, EDA flows, and AI.
You’ll collaborate deeply with our AI team, software team, and analog design lead to make sure our system reflects how world-class layout actually works — and builds on it. You’ll start as an individual contributor, with the opportunity to grow into a technical leadership role.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
WHAT YOU WILL DO
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Define the layout methodology for Astrus’s Layout Game Engine, including placement heuristics, device matching, floorplanning patterns, symmetry constraints, and more.
Work closely with the AI and Game Engine teams to translate layout intent into learnable design moves and constraints.
Develop reference layouts that reflect gold-standard human designs, for use in benchmarking AI performance.
Collaborate with the Computational Physics and Evaluation teams to ensure the AI’s performance is grounded in physical reality (e.g., parasitics, yield, DRC).
Design experiments and pipelines that test and validate layout strategies, both algorithmically and in comparison to real designs.
Work with EDA experts to ensure compatibility with industry-standard workflows and support layout integration (e.g., .oa, GDS, PDK constraints).
Help shape the roadmap for automating more complex analog and mixed-signal blocks, expanding Astrus’s capabilities.
Define the layout methodology for Astrus’s Layout Game Engine, including placement heuristics, device matching, floorplanning patterns, symmetry constraints, and more.
Work closely with the AI and Game Engine teams to translate layout intent into learnable design moves and constraints.
Develop reference layouts that reflect gold-standard human designs, for use in benchmarking AI performance.
Collaborate with the Computational Physics and Evaluation teams to ensure the AI’s performance is grounded in physical reality (e.g., parasitics, yield, DRC).
Design experiments and pipelines that test and validate layout strategies, both algorithmically and in comparison to real designs.
Work with EDA experts to ensure compatibility with industry-standard workflows and support layout integration (e.g., .oa, GDS, PDK constraints).
Help shape the roadmap for automating more complex analog and mixed-signal blocks, expanding Astrus’s capabilities.
WHO YOU ARE
WHO YOU ARE
WHO YOU ARE
You’ve done hands-on analog or mixed-signal layout at FinFET nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm, 3nm).
Deep understanding of layout methodologies, device matching, parasitics, symmetry, and constraint-based design.
Comfortable collaborating with software and AI teams — you don’t need to code, but you know how to explain what matters in layout.
Experience with layout tools like Virtuoso, Calibre, or custom internal flows.
Familiarity with PDKs, DRC, LVS, and EDA infrastructure is a strong plus.
Excited to work at the frontier of layout and AI — and help shape a new way of designing chips.
You’ve done hands-on analog or mixed-signal layout at FinFET nodes (e.g., 7nm, 5nm, 3nm).
Deep understanding of layout methodologies, device matching, parasitics, symmetry, and constraint-based design.
Comfortable collaborating with software and AI teams — you don’t need to code, but you know how to explain what matters in layout.
Experience with layout tools like Virtuoso, Calibre, or custom internal flows.
Familiarity with PDKs, DRC, LVS, and EDA infrastructure is a strong plus.
Excited to work at the frontier of layout and AI — and help shape a new way of designing chips.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
You’ll help define how the next generation of analog chips is designed — not by hand, but by intelligent systems.
Collaborate with top-tier AI researchers, product leaders, and engineers from places like DeepMind, Juniper, BlackBerry, and Sutton Lab.
Own a meaningful piece of the company through generous equity.
Join a small, tight-knit team working at the edge of what’s possible.
You’ll help define how the next generation of analog chips is designed — not by hand, but by intelligent systems.
Collaborate with top-tier AI researchers, product leaders, and engineers from places like DeepMind, Juniper, BlackBerry, and Sutton Lab.
Own a meaningful piece of the company through generous equity.
Join a small, tight-knit team working at the edge of what’s possible.
Ready to radically improve global computation? 🚀📈🌎 🤖
Ready to radically improve global computation? 🚀📈🌎 🤖
Reach out to careers@astrus.ai or Steph Hector for more details
Reach out to careers@astrus.ai or Steph Hector for more details