Graduate CPU Physical Implementation Engineer

Do you want to help Arm and its partners build outstanding products? Arm’s Sophia Antipolis design centre is located in one of the most appealing parts of France, at the heart of Europe’s largest and most dynamic technology park. Surrounded by mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, this exceptional design centre has delivered leading products from Arm’s Cortex(TM) processor family. These CPUs power some of the world’s best-selling smartphones, tablets and gaming systems, using technology that has taken user experience and performance to another level! This is an opportunity to work on the next generation of processors to appear in the most desirable products over the next 3 years. The design team combines expert engineers and graduates from top engineering schools. Collectively, the team is highly creative, collaborative, delivery orientated and committed.

Job Overview

Meeting Area, Frequency and Power requirements are the most meaningful activities in CPU development. We work closely with micro‑architecture designers and standards cells/Macro designers to build and improve metrics as well as the overall quality of designs targeting 3nm and below technology nodes, using a broad array of skills. We also take ownership of the complete implementation flow development, from synthesis to GDSII, including static timing analysis, IR‑drop analysis and equivalence checking.

What could you be doing as a CPU Physical Implementation Engineer?

• Work with the CPU design team to identify critical paths and timing bottlenecks across IP development, enabling accurate trade‑off between the various performance metrics of the designs (frequency, IPC, power, area)
• Produce Power/Performance/Area figures and help CPU micro‑architecture improvement
• Analyse existing tools for enhancements/automation, alongside trialling new tools

We are looking for individuals who:

• Hold, or are on track to hold, a university degree by the programme start date. This can be Bachelors, Masters or PhD in Electronic Engineering or Computer Science. Candidates with alternative degrees will also be considered depending on experience.
• Have exposure to synthesis/floor‑planning/power planning, clock tree, place and route tools and techniques through school projects or internships.
• Understand the trade‑off between power, performance and area in typical CMOS design.
• Have knowledge of CPU micro‑architecture concepts (cache, MMU, pipeline…).
• Be able to schedule own workload and plan tasks.
• Possess good interpersonal skills.

Qualities that will help your application stand out:

• Knowledge of power domain management through UPF (2.0 and onwards).
• Basic understanding of DFT techniques.
• Experience developing scripts (Python, Perl, Tcl…) for automation purposes.
• Working in UNIX/Linux environment, with bug tracking and source code control systems, especially Git.
• Ability to work in French and in English.

Additional Information

We encourage early applications as we review them on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Relocation support is available for domestic moves within the country and regional moves within Europe. Visa sponsorship support is also available for candidates who require it.

In Return

You’ll receive a starting salary of €45,000 (Bachelor level) or €47,000 (Master level), alongside a comprehensive rewards package. As you develop in role, you’ll have clear opportunities to progress within the salary range at Arm. With mid‑year and year‑end reviews, you’ll have two formal progression windows each year, recognising your growth. You can also attend our “Grad‑teach‑Grads” workshops, guest speaker series, and social events to expand your knowledge. If you’d like to get more involved, you can join the Graduate Committee to further develop your planning, networking, and coordination skills. You’ll be invited to our Global Graduate Conference (GGC) – an annual event where graduates hear from executive leaders, guest speakers, and build lasting connections.

Salary Range

€40,300 – €54,500 per year.

Accommodations at Arm

At Arm, we want to build extraordinary teams. If you need an adjustment or an accommodation during the recruitment process, please email By sending us the requested information you consent to its use by Arm to arrange appropriate accommodations. All accommodation or adjustment requests will be treated with confidentiality, and information about these requests will only be disclosed as necessary. Examples of support include breaks between interviews, having documents read aloud, or office accessibility.

Hybrid Working at Arm

Arm’s approach to hybrid working is designed to create a working environment that supports both high performance and personal wellbeing. We believe in bringing people together face‑to‑face to enable us to work at pace, while recognising the value of flexibility. Within that framework, we empower groups and teams to determine their own hybrid working patterns, depending on the work and the team’s needs. Details of what this means for each role will be shared upon application. In some cases, the flexibility we can offer is limited by local legal, regulatory, tax, or other considerations, and where this is the case, we will collaborate with you to find the best solution. Please talk to us to find out more about what this could look like for you.

Equal Opportunities at Arm

Arm is an equal opportunity employer, committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and colleagues. We are a diverse organization of dedicated and innovative individuals, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.