Hardware Development Engineer - Chip Timing (f/m/x)

Introduction

Join a Team That Builds the Future of Computing

At IBM's largest European R&D site in Ehningen, Germany, innovation is a team effort. With 1,300 employees and around 200 engineers in our hardware development team, we're shaping the future of computing-together.

We design the core components behind IBM Z, IBM POWER, and IBM Quantum systems-technologies that power cloud computing, AI, big data, and more. What sets us apart is how we work: across borders, disciplines, and product families. You'll collaborate with colleagues in the U.S., Israel, and India, using AI, Agile and Design Thinking to drive creativity and continuous learning.

If you're passionate about technology and thrive in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment, we'd love to meet you.

Your role and responsibilities

Your Role: Timing Engineer
We're hiring Development Engineers (f/m/x) to join our Processor Physical Design team starting January 1, 2027. The team is responsible for designing and implementing powerful server processors for IBM Z and IBM POWER server as well as essential chips for IBM Quantum systems.
Key Areas of Work
As a Timing Engineer, you will be part of a multidisciplinary team driving the delivery of timing-closed, manufacturable chip designs in leading-edge semiconductor technologies. You will work across the full design cycle, taking on a diverse set of responsibilities that are critical to the success of next-generation IBM processors and chips.

• Perform static timing analysis (STA) to verify processor designs meet frequency and timing requirements
• Analyze timing violations and identify root causes across multiple design stages
• Analyze and validate simulation based timing rules
• Collaborate with logic, circuit, physical design, and methodology teams to resolve timing issues
• Support synthesis, place-and-route, clock implementation, and design optimization activities
• Develop scripts and automation to improve timing analysis efficiency and design quality
• Participate in design reviews and contribute to signoff readiness
• Learn and apply timing tools and design methodologies
• Help drive continuous improvements in timing closure methodologies and design flows with the introduction of new AI-based tools and concepts

Your Team & Work Environment

• A modern, agile development environment
• Flexible working hours and a secure workplace
• Early responsibility with mentorship support
• Tailored development for technical, leadership, or project management careers
• Opportunities to apply IBM Bob and other AI tools in daily engineering work

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

Master's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

We're looking for candidates with a strong technical foundation and a collaborative mindset. Ideally, you have:

• University degree (Bachelor, Master, PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related field
• Solid understanding of digital circuit design
• Knowledge of analog circuit design is an advantage
• Experience with circuit simulation tools like SPICE
• Experience in static timing analysis (STA) is an advantage
• Knowledge in the domain of clock distribution (e.g. clock trees or grids) and clock circuits (e.g. oscillators or PLLs) is an advantage
• Experience with CAD tools for the physical design flow (e.g. Cadence, Synopsys) is an advantage
• Programming experience (preferably Python)
• Experience with CI/CD tools (e.g. Git, Jenkins) is an advantage
• Experience with AI-assisted development tools, coding assistants, or workflow automation is an advantage
• Strong intrinsic motivation and proactive attitude
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for experimentation, problem-solving, and debugging
• Strong team player and open minded to work in an international team
• Strong communication skills in English and German

Please submit a complete application package, including:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Academic transcripts, including a detailed grade overview
• Employment references or letters of recommendation (if available)

Preferred technical and professional experience

ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT

IBM Systems helps IT leaders think differently about their infrastructure. IBM servers and storage are no longer inanimate - they can understand, reason, and learn so our clients can innovate while avoiding IT issues. Our systems power the world's most important industries and our clients are the architects of the future. Join us to help build our leading-edge technology portfolio designed for cognitive business and optimized for cloud computing.

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 500 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, neurodivergence, age, or other characteristics protected by the applicable law. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

For additional information about location requirements, please discuss with the recruiter following submission of your application.