SoC Validation Engineer_ Pre & Post-Silicon

Role:                 SoC Validation Engineer_ Pre & Post-Silicon
Location:         Sunnyvale CA (Onsite)
 
 
Summary 

We are looking for an experienced SoC Validation Engineer to drive end-to-end validation of complex System-on-Chip (SoC) designs across both pre-silicon and post-silicon phases. The ideal candidate brings deep domain expertise in SoC IP subsystems   including Clock, Reset, Ethernet, I/O controllers, and related infrastructure IPs   with proven ability to develop test strategies, execute validation plans, and root-cause failures from simulation through first silicon and production. 
 
 
Key Responsibilities 
 Pre-Silicon Validation 

• Develop comprehensive verification and validation plans for SoC-level IP subsystems including Clock Generation/Distribution (PLLs, clock muxes, dividers), Reset Architecture, Ethernet MAC/PHY, and I/O interfaces (GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, JTAG) 

• Create and execute directed and constrained-random tests targeting IP integration, connectivity, and functional correctness at the SoC level 

• Verify clock domain crossings (CDC), reset sequencing, and power-on reset (POR) behavior 

• Validate Ethernet data path integrity, link negotiation, and MAC-to-PHY (MII/RGMII/SGMII) interfaces 

• Perform functional coverage analysis and drive coverage closure across IP blocks 

• Collaborate with design and architecture teams on RTL debug, assertions, and specification reviews 

• Execute validation on emulation/FPGA prototyping platforms (Palladium, Veloce, Protium) for early software/firmware integration 

Post-Silicon Validation 

• Bring up and validate SoC IPs on first silicon and platform boards 

• Develop and execute post-silicon test plans covering: 

• Clock: PLL lock times, frequency accuracy, jitter characterization, clock switching, glitch-free mux transitions 

• Reset: Reset assertion/de-assertion sequencing, warm/cold reset flows, watchdog timer resets, brown-out detection 

• Ethernet: Link bring-up, auto-negotiation, packet integrity (CRC/FCS), throughput/latency, loopback testing, PTP/IEEE 1588 timestamping 

• I/O: Pin mux configuration, drive strength, voltage levels, protocol compliance (I2C/SPI/UART timing), interrupt routing 

• Debug silicon failures using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, JTAG/DFx, and embedded trace tools 

• Perform root-cause analysis of post-silicon bugs and drive resolution with design and firmware teams 

• Characterize IP performance under varying voltage, frequency, and temperature (VFT) conditions 

• Develop and maintain automated test frameworks for regression and production testing 

• Collaborate with platform, firmware, BSP, and driver teams on system-level integration and debug 

General 

• Author and maintain validation documentation: test plans, debug reports, coverage metrics, and known-issue databases 

• Develop Python/Perl/Tcl scripts for test automation, log parsing, and result analysis 

• Participate in silicon bring-up triage, failure analysis, and bug review meetings 

• Mentor junior engineers and drive process improvements in validation methodology 

• Interface with IP vendors for third-party IP integration, compliance, and issue resolution 

 
Required Qualifications 

• Education: B.S./M.S./Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field 

• Experience: 4 10+ years in SoC validation (pre-silicon and/or post-silicon) 

• Deep understanding of SoC architecture and IP integration concepts