Position: Principal Post-Silicon Validation Engineer – SoC & System Validation
Location: New York
Job Description
Job Summary
We are seeking a Principal Post-Silicon Validation Engineer to lead the system-level validation, debug, and bring-up of complex So Cs for cutting-edge AI, HPC, automotive, MCU and data center products. In this senior role, you will drive post-silicon validation strategy, coordinate across hardware and software teams, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, production-ready silicon.
Experience with Virtual Modeling, System
C, and TLM is a plus, supporting pre-silicon co-validation and accelerating silicon bring-up.
Key Responsibilities
• Post-Silicon Validation Planning & Execution
• Define and lead comprehensive post-silicon validation plans, including functional validation, performance tuning, stress testing, and interoperability.
• Develop and execute system-level test content, leveraging real-world workloads, benchmarks, and custom test suites.
• Drive silicon bring-up, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure first-pass success.
• Silicon Debug & Issue Resolution
• Lead complex issue triage, debug, and root cause analysis using hardware debug tools (logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, JTAG, trace).
• Interface with design, verification, and firmware teams to resolve issues found in silicon and drive corrective actions.
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Coordination
• Work closely with design, verification, firmware, software, and system teams to align validation goals and schedules.
• Provide critical feedback to architecture and design teams on silicon behavior and feature readiness.
• Validation Infrastructure Development
• Develop and enhance validation frameworks, automation scripts, and post-silicon diagnostics to accelerate validation cycles.
• Contribute to lab infrastructure setup, including platform bring-up, test environments, and debug tool integration.
• Leadership & Mentorship
• Lead technical reviews, debug task forces, and post-silicon readiness assessments.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive a culture of technical rigor and innovation.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
• Education & Experience
• B.S./M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in post-silicon validation, hardware bring-up, or related SoC/system validation roles.
• Technical Expertise
• Proven track record of silicon bring-up and validation for complex SoCs or silicon systems.
• Strong understanding of SoC architecture, high-speed interfaces (PCIe Gen5/6, CXL, DDR5, HBM3), and embedded system design.
• Hands-on expertise in system-level validation, performance tuning, and debug of complex SoC designs.
• Debug & Validation Tools
• Proficient in hardware debug tools (JTAG, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers), as well as embedded software and firmware-level debugging.
• Experience with diagnostic software and post-silicon validation frameworks.
• Soft Skills
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with a methodical approach to debug and issue resolution.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work across multi-disciplinary teams.
Additional Information
Preferred/Additional Skills
• Virtual Modeling & Pre-Silicon Co-Validation
• Experience with System
C and Transaction-Level Modeling (TLM) for virtual prototypes and early system-level validation is a strong plus.
• Ability to leverage virtual platforms for pre-silicon software/firmware validation to accelerate post-silicon efforts.
• Firmware & Software Integration
• Familiarity with low-level firmware (boot loaders, drivers) and OS integration for hardware/software co-validation.
• DFx and System Test
• Exposure to Design for Test (DFT) concepts and silicon testability features (scan, BIST, boundary scan).
• Power & Performance Validation
• Experience with low-power validation, dynamic power analysis, and performance optimization techniques.
Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose ‘To Make Our Lives Easier.’ As the industry’s leading expert in embedded processing with unmatched quality and system-level know-how, we have evolved to provide scalable and comprehensive semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT industries based on the broadest product portfolio, including High…