Methods may include providing a device structure including a well formed in an epitaxial layer, and forming a plurality of shielding layers in the device structure, wherein at least one shielding layer is formed between a pair of adjacent sacrificial gates of a plurality of sacrificial gates. The method may further include forming a contact over the at least one shielding layer, forming a fill layer over the contact, and forming a plurality of trenches into the device structure, wherein at least one trench of the plurality of trenches is formed between a pair of adjacent shielding layers of the plurality of shielding layers, and wherein the at least one trench of the plurality of trenches is defined in part by a sidewall of the fill layer. The method may further include forming a gate structure within the at least one trench of the plurality of trenches.