PHY Characterization Engineer

Job Title

PHY Characterization Engineer

Role Summary

The PHY Characterization Engineer is part of a cross-functional team developing die-to-die PHY IP for ASIC products. The role focuses on developing and executing characterization plans, automating test scripts and reports, and analyzing results with design and test teams.

Experience Level

Senior — requires extensive hands-on experience; typical guidance in this posting is 10+ years (Master's +10 years or Bachelor's +12 years).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include designing and executing PHY characterization efforts and partnering with analog, digital, and test teams.

• Develop detailed understanding of die-to-die PHY architectures and performance limits.
• Plan characterization and functional test strategies with analog/digital/DFT/physical teams.
• Implement and maintain characterization automation, scripts, and report-generation tools.
• Execute laboratory and automated test plans; collect and validate measurements.
• Analyze test results, debug failures, and present findings to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Maintain test setups and coordinate use of lab equipment and resources.

Requirements

Key technical must-haves and additional preferred skills.

Must-have:

• Proficiency in at least one scripting/programming language: Ruby, C, C++, Perl, or Python.
• Experience with Linux environments and Bash scripting.
• Practical experience with lab equipment (power supplies, oscilloscopes, cooling setups, etc.).
• Familiarity with Built-In Self-Test (BIST) techniques.
• Experience characterizing DDR interfaces and high-speed I/O.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience or coursework in RTL (SystemVerilog, Verilog, VHDL).
• Understanding of VLSI IC I/O fundamentals and control.
• Experience analyzing and plotting data with Matlab or JMP.
• Basic understanding of communications theory.
• Familiarity with AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Cursor) for productivity or data analysis.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering (or equivalent) with significant experience; or Master's degree in a related field with reduced experience requirement. The posting explicitly allows equivalent practical experience in lieu of a listed degree.

About the Company

Company: Broadcom

Headquarters: Irvine, California, United States

Broadcom is a global technology leader that designs, develops, and supplies a wide range of semiconductor and infrastructure software solutions. The company is known for its innovations in wireless and broadband communications, enabling a connected world.