Firmware Validation Engineer

Job Title

Firmware Validation Engineer

Role Summary

The Firmware Validation Engineer will define validation strategies and implement automated test frameworks to verify firmware across pre-silicon (simulation, emulation, FPGA) and post-silicon environments for Ethernet products in the Data Center Group.

Works with firmware, hardware, and system/software teams to debug issues, support board bring-up, and ensure firmware quality and release readiness.

Experience Level

Senior level — requires 6+ years of experience in firmware and system/hardware validation.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include planning validation, building automation, and leading debug efforts.

• Define validation strategy and test plans for firmware/embedded features across pre- and post-silicon platforms.
• Develop and maintain Python-based automated test frameworks for functional, regression, stress, performance, power, and reliability testing.
• Validate low-level subsystems including boot flow, PCIe, memory, power/thermal, security, manageability, and storage/network interfaces.
• Validate firmware on Linux-based system platforms with software drivers and tools.
• Own triage and root-cause analysis; isolate HW vs FW vs SW/tool/test issues and provide reproducible debug data.
• Create and maintain test infrastructure for simulators/emulators: CI pipelines, dashboards, log collection, test result analysis, and release sign-off criteria.
• Collaborate with firmware developers, hardware designers, architects, and system/software teams to track and resolve defects.
• Support board/platform bring-up and post-silicon lab activities.
• 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, HW–SW driver interactions, and boot flows.
• Test automation proficiency in Python and pytest; experience building maintainable automation and log parsing/analysis.
• Hands-on experience with emulators, simulators, and/or FPGA prototyping.
• 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 summaries.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with traffic generation tools (IXIA, Iperf, Scapy) and architecture knowledge of IPU, NIC, or DPU.
• Interface expertise: 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 tools and version control (Git).

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is required.

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.