CPU Core Validation Senior Engineer

Job Title

CPU Core Validation Senior Engineer

Role Summary

Join the CPU Validation team to plan and execute functional validation and bring‑up of CPU core pipeline architectures and microarchitecture features on pre‑silicon emulation/FPGAs and on silicon. Work cross‑functionally with CPU design, verification, SoC bring‑up and software teams to validate IP and debug silicon failures.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The posting references multiple experience ranges; primary technical requirement calls for 3+ years of silicon validation and bring‑up, with an additional line indicating more senior hires may have ~12+ years of experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include technical planning, validation execution, and cross‑team debug during bring‑up.

• Develop detailed test plans for CPU IP considering architecture and microarchitecture features.
• Create validation methodology and test contents for emulators/FPGAs (pre‑silicon) and for silicon.
• Collaborate with CPU design, verification, SoC bring‑up and software teams for feature bring‑up and end‑to‑end validation.
• Triage and debug failures on silicon; reproduce silicon failures on emulators and FPGAs.
• Design and propose debug features and instrumentation to improve future bring‑ups.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for day‑one success; preferred items listed separately.

• Minimum: 3+ years experience in silicon validation and bring‑up (posting also references higher seniority cases).
• Experience implementing embedded firmware in assembly and C/C++.
• Familiarity with software toolchain: assemblers, C compilers, Makefiles, and source control tools.
• Experience with emulation, FPGA platforms, and reproducing silicon issues on pre‑silicon environments.
• Strong debugging and failure triage skills on silicon platforms.

Preferred:

• Deep understanding of microprocessor concepts: cache coherence, memory ordering/consistency, prefetching, branch prediction, renaming, speculative execution, address translation/MMU.
• Knowledge of Random Instruction Sequencing (RIS) and block/subsystem/chip‑level testing methodologies.
• Experience writing test plans and assembly test code; ability to own a block/unit independently.

Education Requirements

Degrees: Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or a related technical field are referenced. The posting lists multiple acceptable combinations of degree and experience (e.g., Bachelor's +2+ years, Master’s +1+ year, or PhD), and also includes phrases allowing related work experience as an alternative to formal degree requirements.

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.