Hardware Validation Engineer, Senior Staff

Job Title

Hardware Validation Engineer, Senior Staff

Role Summary

Hands-on role in a lab validating memory interface IP through PCB design, signal-integrity analysis, and hardware bring-up. Work closely with silicon, firmware, and design teams to close the gap between simulation and measured behavior.

Deliver validated reference designs and debug findings that enable customer production deployments across automotive, mobile, and data center applications.

Experience Level

Senior - typically 6–8+ years of hardware design and validation experience in high-speed digital and mixed-signal systems.

Responsibilities

Deliver validation hardware, perform signal-integrity analysis, and drive root-cause debugging to enable silicon bring-up and customer deployments.

• Design and layout PCBs in Cadence Allegro for memory IP characterization and customer reference designs.
• Analyze high-speed signal behavior using S-parameters, eye diagrams, and crosstalk simulations.
• Route and validate communication and control interfaces (JTAG, I2C, SPI, UART) with attention to timing and noise immunity.
• Debug board-level issues using logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, VNAs, spectrum and protocol analyzers to isolate failures across silicon, firmware, layout, and test setup.
• Interpret SPICE, IBIS, and channel-analysis outputs and correlate simulations with measured waveforms.
• Review designs with cross-functional teams and establish best practices for routing, decoupling, and layout adherence.
• Drive root-cause analysis and document actionable recommendations for design and firmware teams.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience.

• 6–8+ years of hardware design and validation experience focusing on high-speed digital and mixed-signal systems.
• Expert proficiency in Cadence Allegro for schematic capture, PCB layout, and constraint-driven design.
• Deep knowledge of signal-integrity concepts: impedance control, S-parameters, crosstalk, intersymbol interference, and return loss.
• Ability to analyze analog IC circuits and correlate SPICE simulation results with measured behavior.
• Hands-on experience debugging hardware with bench instrumentation (logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, VNAs, spectrum/protocol analyzers).
• Experience routing and debugging communication interfaces and designing PCB stack-ups with appropriate high-speed materials.
• Proven ability to work independently, mentor junior engineers, and communicate clear technical findings.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a closely related technical field, or equivalent hands-on practical experience. The posting explicitly allows equivalent practical experience.

About the Company

Company: Synopsys

Headquarters: Mountain View, California, USA

Synopsys is a leading company in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP solutions. It provides tools and services for designing and verifying complex semiconductor devices and systems. The company plays a pivotal role in the semiconductor industry, helping engineers innovate and deliver higher-quality products faster. Synopsys is committed to advancing technology standards and offers a range of software and hardware solutions to its clients globally.