Firmware Validation Engineer

Job Title

Firmware Validation Engineer

Role Summary

Responsible for planning and executing firmware and system validation across pre-silicon (simulator/emulator/FPGA) and post-silicon platforms for Ethernet/networking products. Work with firmware, hardware, system, and software teams to design tests, automate validation, triage failures, and ensure release readiness.

Experience Level

Mid-level (guidance in posting: 6+ years of experience in firmware and system/hardware validation).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include:

• Define validation strategy and detailed test plans for firmware/embedded features across pre- and post-silicon environments.
• Develop and maintain automated Python-based test frameworks for functional, regression, stress, performance, power, and reliability validation.
• Validate low-level firmware subsystems including boot flow, PCIe, memory, power/thermal, security, manageability, and relevant storage/network functions.
• Validate firmware on Linux-based system platforms with drivers and tools; support board/platform bring-up.
• Own triage and root-cause analysis: isolate HW vs FW vs SW/tool/test issues and provide actionable debug data and reproduction steps.
• Create and maintain test infrastructure: CI pipelines, dashboards, log collection, result analysis, and release sign-off criteria.
• Collaborate across firmware, hardware design, architecture, and system/software teams to close defects and track resolutions.
• Mentor engineers, review test code, improve coverage, and enforce quality practices.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience:

• Strong embedded and system validation fundamentals: firmware execution, interrupts, DMA, resets, boot flows, HW–SW driver interactions.
• Test automation proficiency in Python and pytest; experience building maintainable automation and log-parsing tools.
• Hands-on experience with emulators, simulators, and/or FPGA prototyping for pre-silicon validation.
• Debugging and triage skills: interpreting traces/logs, using JTAG/SWD/GDB, reading register dumps, bisecting regressions, and reproducing failures.
• Familiarity with validation methodologies: coverage planning, risk-based testing, test-case design, regression gating, and defect lifecycle management.
• Clear written and verbal communication for test plans, bug reports, and sign-off documentation.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with traffic generation tools (IXIA, iperf, Scapy) and architecture knowledge of IPU/NIC/DPU.
• Interface experience: PCIe, DDR, NVMe, Ethernet, USB, I2C/SPI/UART, GPIO, and power management.
• Post-silicon lab skills: oscilloscope/logic analyzer usage, protocol analyzers, board bring-up, and hardware workaround validation.
• Familiarity with CI/CD tooling and version control (Git).

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field. The posting also specifies 6+ years of experience in firmware and system/hardware validation.

About the Company

Company: Intel Corporation

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, USA

Intel Corporation is a leading multinational technology company known for its innovative semiconductor solutions, including microprocessors, artificial intelligence accelerators, and memory products. Headquartered in the United States, Intel focuses on cutting-edge technology and a collaborative working environment, driving advancements in semiconductor manufacturing to meet global demands. The company emphasizes professional development and aims to shape the future of technology through groundbreaking designs.