DDR IP Validation and Firmware Development (Senior/Lead/Staff)
QualcommJob Title
DDR IP Validation and Firmware Development (Senior/Lead/Staff)
Role Summary
Develop and maintain firmware and validation software to exercise DDR and related IP, enable silicon bring-up, and validate IP functionality. Collaborate with IP design, verification, and software teams to define test plans, debug failures, and measure power, performance and coverage metrics.
Work independently on silicon validation activities, use hardware debug hooks and instruments, and mentor junior engineers.
Experience Level
Senior-level (titles: Senior / Lead / Staff). The posting indicates a typical experience range of about 2–10 years in hardware engineering or related work.
Responsibilities
Primary duties include implementing validation firmware, exercising IP features, and debugging silicon and firmware issues.
- Understand IP architecture and translate validation requirements into firmware and test content.
- Develop, port, and enhance validation software and firmware for IP bring-up and testing.
- Debug complex firmware and system-level issues; root-cause failures with cross-functional teams.
- Use silicon debug hooks and measurement infrastructure to collect power, performance, coverage, and KPI data.
- Interface with design, verification, and software teams to define test plans and resolve issues.
- Work with emulation/pre-silicon environments and assist silicon bring-up and validation activities.
- Mentor and guide junior engineers; operate with minimal supervision.
Requirements
Key technical skills and experience required or strongly preferred. Degree requirements are listed separately under Education Requirements.
- Proven IP validation experience (firmware/software validation of IP blocks).
- Strong C programming skills and hands-on firmware development and debugging experience.
- Deep understanding of embedded systems, SoC architecture, processor architecture, and memory interfacing.
- Experience with silicon validation and silicon enablement workflows (bring-up, test vectors, debug hooks).
- Familiarity with JTAG-based debuggers, compilers, linkers, and typical firmware toolchains.
- Experience using lab instruments such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers for hardware debug.
- Exposure to emulation/pre-silicon environments and silicon debug infrastructure.
- Ability to communicate clearly in writing and verbally and to collaborate across teams.
- Nice-to-have: experience with DDR and other high-speed protocols; scripting (preferably Python); experience with power/performance measurement and coverage analysis.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or a related technical field. The posting specifies Bachelor's + 2+ years, Master's + 1+ year, or PhD (no years specified) as acceptable educational backgrounds.
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.
