Pre-Silicon SoC Validation - Technical Lead

Job Title

Pre-Silicon SoC Validation - Technical Lead

Role Summary

Lead definition and execution of end-to-end SoC validation strategy across the full silicon lifecycle: architecture definition, pre-silicon planning, RTL milestone readiness, silicon power-on, post-silicon debug, stepping readiness, and PRQ quality convergence.

Provide cross-functional technical leadership across architecture, design, verification, firmware, post-silicon, security, and manufacturing teams to ensure predictable silicon bring-up and continuous improvement of validation coverage and processes.

Experience Level

Senior - 12–20 years of relevant industry experience in pre-silicon validation, SoC validation, design verification, silicon validation, firmware validation, or hardware/software co-validation.

Responsibilities

Accountable for validation strategy, execution, debug, and readiness reporting for complex SoCs and disaggregated architectures.

• Define and drive end-to-end validation plans, coverage goals, debug plans, and sign-off criteria aligned with program milestones.
• Validate critical SoC flows across security, coherency, memory, fabric, IO, and cross-die interactions.
• Review architecture and microarchitecture specs to identify validation gaps and propose mitigation actions.
• Drive debug of complex pre- and post-silicon failures and identify root causes across RTL, firmware, microcode, and platform software.
• Use post-silicon sightings, defect trends, and stepping feedback to improve pre-silicon coverage and prevent repeat escapes.
• Define validation quality metrics, execution dashboards, risk indicators, and milestone readiness reports for leadership reviews.
• Drive automation and efficiency improvements, including test grading, coverage-driven execution, and AI/ML-assisted bug hunting.
• Mentor senior and mid-level engineers and contribute reusable validation methodologies and best practices across programs.

Requirements

Core technical competencies and leadership skills required to perform the role.

Must-have:

• 12–20 years of experience driving pre-silicon and post-silicon validation for complex SoCs and disaggregated designs.
• Deep knowledge of SoC and system architecture, microarchitecture fundamentals, IP/subsystem integration, fabrics, and memory hierarchy.
• Strong expertise in security and coherency validation, cache/fabric ordering, access-control flows, isolation, and attestation behaviors.
• Proven validation methodology experience across test planning, content development, coverage closure, and milestone readiness.
• Strong debug skills using waveform analysis, logs, traces, assertions, firmware instrumentation, and platform-level tools.
• Proficiency with programming or scripting languages such as C, C++, Python, Perl, SystemVerilog, UVM, or similar.
• Experience with firmware and microcode interactions and platform software implications on validation and bring-up.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, influence stakeholders, and communicate complex technical issues clearly.

Nice-to-have:

• Prior server SoC (Intel Xeon) validation experience or exposure to Cheetah-based validation methodologies.
• Experience applying AI/ML, formal-assisted validation, or reproducibility of post-silicon sightings in pre-silicon environments.
• Experience driving A0/TI readiness, milestone sign-off, or PRQ quality convergence.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, VLSI, Embedded Systems, Computer Science, or a related discipline.

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.