Senior Staff Engineer, SoC Debug & Validation Engineer

Position Summary

Samsung, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, is founded on a simple philosophy - the endless pursuit of excellence will create a better world for all. At Samsung Austin Research and Development Center (SARC) and Advanced Computing Lab (ACL), we are building a center of excellence for Intellectual Property (IP) that is applied to high-performance computing devices (mobile, automotive, and other custom market segments) consumed by millions of people around the world. Come build with us!

Role and Responsibilities

As a Senior Staff Debug and Validation Engineer, you will join the Silicon Validation team at the forefront of validating Samsung's cutting-edge mobile GPU, interconnects, and memory controllers.

Your work will span silicon bring-up and diagnostic development to ensure our IPs achieve the highest standards of power, performance, and quality. You will own and drive post-silicon validation across GPU, complex system coherent interconnects and memory controllers, with a strong focus on automating and simplifying validation techniques.

• You are an innovator. You excel at driving silicon debug, Design-for-Debug (DfD) architecture, and diagnostic development across GPU, system coherent interconnect, memory controller, and CPU subsystems.
• You take ownership in leading board-level hardware/software bring-up of ARM-based SoCs including GPU, interconnect/fabric, and memory controllers, and conduct post-silicon power and performance analysis in Android-based and Firmware environments.
• You are forward-thinking. You develop and automate SoC-level tests and IP-level validation plans to improve coverage, speed, and efficiency. You proactively analyze SoC behavior through functional analysis, contributing insights that help shape next-generation SoC designs.

• You are a problem solver. You debug complex SoC and IP-level issues by analyzing functional and parametric behavior, applying advanced power and performance analysis techniques, and developing scripts to improve validation efficiency.
• You are a team player who builds trust and alignment with cross-functional teams (design, verification, software) by modeling a collaborative culture, promoting data-driven communications, and fostering diverse perspectives to deliver productive resolutions.
• You lead by example to build a culture of innovation, growth, and accountability. You inspire high performance by guiding team members through changes, building key stakeholder relationships while balancing priorities and representing shared goals, and providing technical mentorship to junior engineers.
• You are a lifelong learner. You stay current with emerging technologies and continuously sharpen your skills to drive innovation in debug and validation methodologies.

Skills and Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering or comparable field, or 13+ years of experience with a Master's Degree, or 11+ year of experience with a Ph.D.
• Experience in GPU post-silicon debug validation experience
• Experience with System Interconnect and GPU architectural knowledge and development
• Experience with SoC and board-level bring up
• Experience with driving debug effort across design, verification and software organization
• Experience with power and performance data collection and analysis in Firmware and Android-based test environments
• Experience with GPU and microprocessor debug using Logic Analyzer, Scopes, and other test equipment
• Familiarity with system coherent interconnect, memory controllers, GPU, and microprocessor product and test engineering
• Experience with Android and Linux based driver development
• Experience with C/C++/Object Oriented programming, Python, Shell Scripting
• Availability to work on-site 5 days a week

Preferred experience:

• Hands-on experience with System and board level bring up
• Hands-on experience using debugger such as Lauterbach to debug software/SoC
• Familiarity with performance and power measurement techniques
• Familiarity with scanchain, array dump, HW debug techniques
• Familiarity with emulator signal extraction from waveform techniques
• Familiarity with IPXACT design documents and parser software development
• Familiarity with GPU and Microprocessor Product and Test engineering
• Programming skills: Linux, Android Kernel, BIOS, Firmware
• Experience with Verilog, GPU Driver

Our Team

The Silicon & Emulation (Si & Emulation) organization at SARC/ACL is instrumental in delivering high-performing GPU and SoC solutions for Samsung's premium mobile products. Our team spans the full silicon development lifecycle, combining expertise in validation, emulation, and debug to ensure our IP designs meet the highest commercial readiness standards for quality, power, and performance. The Silicon Validation team specifically focuses on post-silicon analysis in both Android and Firmware OS environments.

With a big charter ahead, we take on challenging work and solve unique problems in a highly collaborative and supportive environment. You will work alongside a diverse, global team of talented engineers to drive cross-functional impact, contribute to multiple stages of the technology development cycle, and see your work come to life in real-world products. Here, bold ideas are encouraged, learning is continuous, and teamwork fuels innovation.

Total Rewards

At Samsung - SARC/ACL, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $180,200 and $297,200. Your actual base pay will depend on variables that may include your education skills, qualifications, experience, and work location.

Samsung employees have access to benefits including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), onsite lunch, employee purchase program, tuition assistance (after 6 months), paid time off, student loan program, wellness incentives, and many more. In addition, regular full-time employees (salaried or hourly) are eligible for MBO bonus compensation, based on company, division, and individual performance.

Additionally, this role might be eligible to participate in long term incentive plan and relocation.

This is an exempt position, which is not eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

U.S. Export Control

This position requires the ability to access information subject to U.S. export control restrictions. Applicants must have the ability to access export-controlled information or be eligible to receive a government authorization to access export-controlled information.

Trade Secrets

By submitting an application, you [applicant] agree[s] not to disclose to Samsung, or induce Samsung to use, any confidential or proprietary information (including trade secrets) belonging to any current or previous employer or other person or entity.

#SARC #ACL

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