Semiconductors
10 chip physical design experts
These ten professionals have held chip physical design roles at semiconductor and silicon companies, as managers, leads and directors of physical design teams. A reader can learn how physical design teams are organized and how they take chips through to tape-out.
Professionals to explore
01—10Balaji Janakiraman
LinkedInExperience: Senior Technical Leader Manager - Physical Design · Intel
Former Senior Technical Leader Manager - Physical Design (2016–2025) and Leader in Silicon Physical Design (2012–2016) at Intel. The profile describes leading and contributing to the design and development of semiconductor products as a Senior Technical Leader in Silicon Physical Design at Intel.
Bertram Bradley
LinkedInExperience: Director - Physical Design · Marvell Technology
Director - Physical Design at Marvell Technology since 2023. Former Senior Staff Manager (2021–2023) and Principal Physical Design Engineer - Clocking Design and Methodology Lead (2019–2021) at Marvell Technology. The profile describes engineering management with direct manager and engineering reports, and project-based block PD team management.
Deb Dyson
LinkedInExperience: Director, Physical Design · Marvell Technology
Director, Physical Design at Marvell Technology since 2025, where the profile says this person managed a team of 20 employees including managers and physical design engineers with skills in timing, place-and-route and full chip integration. Former Sr. Staff Engineering Manager, Physical Design at Marvell Technology (2018–2025).
Gagan Kansal
LinkedInExperience: Physical Design Manager · NXP Semiconductors
Former Physical Design Manager at NXP Semiconductors (2022–2025), with a Principal Physical Design Engineer role at NXP Semiconductors listed for 2021–2025. Sr. Principal Engineer Sr. Manager at NXP Semiconductors since 2025. Former Physical Design Engineer at NXP Semiconductors (2017–2021).
Michael Raj Varuvel
LinkedInExperience: ASIC Physical Design Manager · MaxLinear
ASIC Physical Design Manager at MaxLinear since 2021, a role the profile describes as hands on physical design chip lead, driving products from netlist to GDS2 on 16 and 5/4nm technology. Former Senior Principal ASIC PnR Engineer at MaxLinear (2011–2021).
Shannon Galinat
LinkedInExperience: Director of Engineering, Physical Design · Marvell Technology
Director of Engineering, Physical Design at Marvell Technology since 2025. Former Principal Physical Design Engineer & Manager at Marvell Technology (2021–2025). The profile describes team leadership as a technical manager of a physical design team responsible for timing closure and tape-out readiness.
Sivakumar Paturi
LinkedInExperience: Principle Physical Design Engineer Manager · Qualcomm
Principle Physical Design Engineer Manager at Qualcomm since 2022. Former Sr.Staff Physical Design Engineer Manager (2015–2022) and Staff Physical Design Engineer (2012–2015) at Qualcomm. The profile says the person completed more than 20 projects across multiple products, including GPU, modem and IP designs for mobile.
Sumit Rastogi
LinkedInExperience: Director Physical Design · Infinera
Former Director Physical Design at Infinera (2017–2026), and Sr Director Physical Design at Astera Labs since 2026. Former Physical Design Manager at Broadcom (2013–2017). The profile describes building teams and managing ASIC physical design projects, with production experience in synthesis, floor planning, place and route, timing closure and STA.
Sunil Muralidharan
LinkedInExperience: SoC Physical Design Manager · Apple
SoC Physical Design Manager at Apple since 2023. Former SoC Physical Design lead at Qualcomm (2017–2018) and SOC Physical Design lead Manager at Intel (2015–2017). The profile cites back-end design of SoCs for mobile, IOT and client products, RTL2GDS implementation and sign off flows, and full chip floorplan design.
Yash Vyavaharkar
LinkedInExperience: SoC Physical Design Manager · Apple
SoC Physical Design Manager at Apple since 2018. The profile describes managing top level teams and leading multi disciplinary physical design teams for Apple's iPhone, iPad and MacBook SoCs on advanced technology nodes. Former Senior SOC Physical Design Engineer at Apple (2014–2018) and Physical Design Lead at Texas Instruments (2009–2014).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's seat to your question, since running a physical design organization differs from hands-on block or full-chip implementation work. Also consider the product type and process node behind your decision, because mobile SoCs, networking chips and processors raise different floorplan, timing and power problems.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you plan floorplan, power and timing closure for a large SoC so that tape-out stays on schedule?
- 02How do you split physical design work between block owners and full-chip integration, and where do schedules usually slip?
- 03How do you staff and organize a physical design team as designs move to more advanced process nodes?
Reaching chip physical design experts
How can I contact one of these chip physical design experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 7 companies, including Intel, Marvell Technology and NXP Semiconductors, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach chip physical design experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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