Custom ASIC Physical Design Engineer

Proto is accelerating the world's transition to an open economy with products that increase access and independence for everyone. We're building Bitkey, a simple and safe self-custody bitcoin wallet that will put customers in control, as well as hardware and software that will help decentralize bitcoin mining and enable new and innovative use cases for bitcoin mining. We're developing these products in the open - you can read more about them at bitkey.build and mining.build . Within Proto, our Bitcoin Products team delivers the product and go-to-market strategy, software, firmware, and custom silicon needed to make Bitkey and our ambitious mining initiatives a reality. Come build the future of money with us!
The Role
We believe everyone should be able to participate and thrive in the economy. We believe bitcoin plays an essential role in the future of payments and the world's economy. We believe that the status quo of bitcoin mining does not serve the mission of the bitcoin ecosystem. So we're building a bitcoin mining rig powered by a Block designed ASIC. With our mining rig, we can address many issues such as the concentration of hardware supply in certain countries and incompatibility with clean energy sources. As the ASIC Physical Design Engineer on our Bitcoin Data Mining team, you will work closely with other digital designers and mixed signal designers to develop the next generation of mining ASIC in 3nm. In particular, the challenges of block level physical implementation, timing, integration, assembly and physical verification are critical parts of this role.
You Will:

• Block level P&R, and integration from early RTL to final tapeout
• Full custom structured datapath optimizations to achieve world class PPA
• Propose mask layout changes to cell level designs to improve congestion and density
• Improve gate-level microarchitecture and placement to optimize timing and power
• Develop scripts to enhance current physical design methodology
• Collaborate with teammates from different functions and time zones

You Have:

• 4+ years of relevant experience with MSEE or a Master of Applied Science degree
• Understanding of the full design cycle from RTL to GDSII, including chip level
• Successfully taped out chips in 7nm and below
• Experience with all aspects of block delivery including clock, power analysis, physical verification, etc.
• Strong Python/Perl/shell/tcl skills
• Experience with Linux and or Unix and text editors
• Understanding of timing constraints and timing reports

We're working to build a more inclusive economy where our customers have equal access to opportunity, and we strive to live by these same values in building our workplace. Block is an equal opportunity employer evaluating all employees and job applicants without regard to identity or any legally protected class. We will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and "fair chance" ordinances.
We believe in being fair, and are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to disabled applicants throughout the recruitment process. We encourage applicants to share any needed accommodations with their recruiter, who will treat these requests as confidentially as possible. Want to learn more about what we're doing to build a workplace that is fair and square? Check out our I+D page .
While there is no specific deadline to apply for this role, U.S. roles are typically open for an average of 55 days before being filled by a successful candidate. Please refer to the date listed at the top of this job page for when this role was first posted.
Block takes a market-based approach to pay, and pay may vary depending on your location. U.S. locations are categorized into one of four zones based on a cost of labor index for that geographic area. The successful candidate's starting pay will be determined based on job-related skills, experience, qualifications, work location, and market conditions. These ranges may be modified in the future.
To find a location's zone designation, please refer to this resource . If a location of interest is not listed, please speak with a recruiter for additional information.
Zone A:
$163,600 - $245,400 USD
Zone B:
$155,400 - $233,200 USD
Zone C:
$147,300 - $220,900 USD
Zone D:
$139,000 - $208,600 USD
Use of AI in Our Hiring Process
We may use automated AI tools to evaluate job applications for efficiency and consistency. These tools comply with local regulations, including bias audits, and we handle all personal data in accordance with state and local privacy laws.
Contact us at [email protected] with hiring practice or data usage questions.
Every benefit we offer is designed with one goal: empowering you to do the best work of your career while building the life you want. Remote work, medical insurance, flexible time off, retirement savings plans, and modern family planning are just some of our offering. Check out our other benefits at Block.
Block, Inc. (NYSE: XYZ) builds technology to increase access to the global economy. Each of our brands unlocks different aspects of the economy for more people. Square makes commerce and financial services accessible to sellers. Cash App is the easy way to spend, send, and store money. Afterpay is transforming the way customers manage their spending over time. TIDAL is a music platform that empowers artists to thrive as entrepreneurs. Bitkey is a simple self-custody wallet built for bitcoin. Proto is a suite of bitcoin mining products and services. Together, we're helping build a financial system that is open to everyone.