The physical design engineer takes a synthesised netlist and implements it as a layout that meets timing, power and area targets and can be manufactured. The work runs from floorplanning and power planning, through placement, clock tree synthesis and routing, to timing closure and physical sign-off.
Physical design engineers work closely with RTL, STA and DFT teams, resolve congestion and timing issues, and fix design-rule and signal-integrity problems ahead of tape-out. At advanced nodes, the complexity of rules, power integrity and variation makes experience especially valuable.
Engineers who have closed blocks or full chips at your node, with your P&R and STA tools, can shorten a schedule significantly.