Team Red Dog is hiring a
Silicon Validation & FPGA Engineer for our client, a next-generation cloud platform company and AI-driven technology organization. This highly technical, hands-on role will develop and validate the silicon powering Azure cloud services and AI workloads, with a focus on SoC validation, FPGA prototyping, embedded C/C++ development, firmware-style testing, and post-silicon bring-up. You will build FPGA platforms and custom RTL, develop Python tooling and low-level test content, and debug complex silicon and hardware issues in the lab alongside design, firmware, architecture, hardware, validation, and security teams. Your work will directly enable successful silicon bring-up and help deliver reliable custom hardware at the foundation of large-scale cloud and AI infrastructure.
Top Required Skills (Must Haves):- C/C++ test development - 3+ years of experience developing bare-metal bring-up code, low-level drivers, and self-checking firmware-style tests for pre-silicon verification or silicon validation at the subsystem or SoC level.
- FPGA prototyping and emulation - 3+ years of hands-on experience bringing up FPGA platforms such as HAPS or Xilinx, including creating board images and bit files, making FPGA RTL changes, and developing platform tooling.
- Hardware and post-silicon debugging - 2+ years of hands-on lab experience using JTAG debuggers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and related equipment to diagnose boot, UART, connectivity, and other low-level hardware failures.
- Python and embedded systems - Experience developing Python-based automation and platform tooling, combined with a strong understanding of embedded software, silicon architecture, and low-level hardware/software interaction.
Opportunity Overview:This is a hands-on, build-it engineering opportunity supporting the development and validation of custom silicon used across cloud and AI infrastructure. Rather than simply operating an existing verification flow, you will create platform images, custom FPGA RTL, firmware-style tests, and Python/CLI tooling that firmware, validation, and security teams rely on every day. The role offers broad exposure across silicon architecture, design, firmware, hardware, validation, and security while working with current-generation FPGA prototyping systems and sophisticated lab debug equipment.
How you will make an impact:- Develop C and C++ test content, low-level drivers, and custom firmware at the subsystem and SoC levels, including self-checking tests running on embedded processors.
- Extend compile and build flows to support custom firmware-style tests.
- Serve as a technical owner for FPGA prototyping platforms such as HAPS or Xilinx, creating board images and bit files and maintaining stable platforms as silicon designs evolve.
- Design custom FPGA RTL to support protocol interfaces, feature enablement, firmware development, and validation.
- Develop and extend Python tooling used to interface with FPGA platforms and automate engineering workflows.
- Debug FPGA and post-silicon issues using JTAG debuggers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, multimeters, and other lab equipment.
- Drive post-silicon bring-up and validation, executing validation suites on first silicon and meeting established bring-up exit criteria.
- Diagnose JTAG failures, UART connectivity issues, boot failures, and other complex platform problems in partnership with design, firmware, hardware, validation, and security teams.
- Root-cause failing post-silicon tests, analyze scan dumps, resolve low-level boot ROM and built-in self-test issues, and drive technical problems through closure.
The expertise you bring:- Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 5-7 years of relevant engineering experience.
- Strong experience developing C/C++ test content for subsystem and SoC verification, including bare-metal and firmware-style testing.
- Working knowledge of SystemVerilog testbenches and verification environments.
- Experience bringing up and maintaining FPGA prototyping or emulation platforms such as HAPS or Xilinx.
- Hands-on hardware debugging experience with JTAG debuggers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and multimeters.
- Experience with post-silicon bring-up and validation, including silicon test execution and debugging boot, connectivity, and platform issues.
- Proficiency in Python or a comparable scripting language such as Perl or Ruby for test automation, build flows, and log or data parsing.
- Strong knowledge of verification principles, testbench architecture, stimulus generation, and complex design debugging.
- Experience with low-level and embedded software, including assembly, startup code, linker scripts, and Makefile-based build flows.
- Familiarity with industry protocols including AMBA (AXI/AHB/APB), JTAG, SPI, I2C/I3C, and USB.
- Strong understanding of silicon and/or computer architecture.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across architecture, design, firmware, hardware, and validation teams.
What makes a candidate highly successful in this role:A highly successful candidate brings deep, hands-on experience across the hardware/software boundary rather than specializing exclusively in one area. They have personally developed C/C++ firmware-style tests, brought up FPGA or emulation platforms, debugged real silicon in a lab environment, and used Python to automate or extend engineering workflows. Strong candidates can independently investigate complex failures from test through root cause, understand SoC and computer architecture, and communicate effectively with architecture, design, firmware, hardware, security, and validation teams. Experience maintaining shared FPGA platforms and delivering reliable tooling that other engineering teams depend on will be particularly valuable.
Why Work with Team Red Dog?At Team Red Dog, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment to personalized service and our deep experience in matching talented professionals with meaningful roles at some of the world's most inspiring companies is what sets us apart. We take the time to understand your unique skills, strengths, and passions-because we believe your career should reflect who you are.
Whether you're looking to grow, pivot, or simply find a place where your work truly matters, we offer opportunities that empower you to make a positive impact. With excellent benefits, a supportive team, and a role where you can thrive while doing what you love, we're here to help you take the next step with confidence. Join us-and discover what it means to be genuinely valued in your career.
Generous benefits package for qualified employees includes: Health insurance (medical, dental, vision, and life)
Employer-matched 401K plan
Paid Time Off
Flexible Paid Holiday Benefit
Estimated Start Date: Immediately
Location: Mountain View, CA - Onsite
Job #: 2587Job Type and Estimated Duration: W2/Contract
Rate: $11,250-$13,000/month
Team Red Dog is committed to providing equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, reach out to , and we will work to ensure an accessible experience. We strictly adhere to federal, state, and local laws to maintain a workplace free from discrimination and harassment.
We offer competitive compensation aligned with U.S. industry standards, and our final offer will reflect the candidate's location, job-specific skills, experience, and knowledge.
All applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for sponsorship.
Team Red Dog is an E-Verify employer.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a reference and background check.
Please no solicitations from C2C or recruiting firms.
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