Principal Design Verification Engineer (Silicon Engineering)

Job Title

Principal Design Verification Engineer (Silicon Engineering)

Role Summary

Lead verification engineering for digital ASIC and FPGA designs used in Starlink space and ground systems. Work with cross-disciplinary teams (architecture, design, firmware, validation, product engineering, ASIC implementation) to develop and deliver pre-silicon verification, chip bring-up, and post-silicon validation.

Focus is on planning and executing verification strategies to ensure complex digital designs meet functional and coverage goals for deployment in harsh and constrained environments.

Experience Level

Senior — requires extensive experience. The posting specifies 10+ years of experience in design verification and testbench development.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include test planning, execution, and validation across block and system levels.

• Lead and execute verification test plans, milestones, and deliverables from conception through completion.
• Perform digital ASIC and FPGA verification at block and system level, including pre-silicon verification and support for chip bring-up and post-silicon validation.
• Develop, maintain, and extend verification environments and automated testbenches.
• Define and implement coverage models, analyze results, and drive closure.
• Collaborate with architecture, RTL design, firmware, and validation teams to resolve issues and iterate on design requirements.
• Be a hands-on contributor who writes and reviews verification code, scripts, and automation.

Requirements

Must-have technical experience and constraints; preferred items listed where noted.

• Must-have: 10+ years of design verification and testbench development experience for digital ASICs and/or FPGAs.
• Must-have: Proven experience in block- and system-level verification, test planning, and driving verification milestones to completion.
• Must-have: Experience supporting chip bring-up and post-silicon validation activities.
• Must-have: Strong software skills for verification automation and scripting (Python or similar).
• Must-have: Strong problem-solving and coding skills; ability to debug complex interactions across RTL, firmware, and system layers.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with verification methodologies such as UVM/OVM/VMM and constrained-random verification.
• Nice-to-have: Strong object-oriented programming knowledge and experience developing coverage-driven verification environments.
• Nice-to-have: RTL design experience and prior involvement in the full silicon lifecycle.
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed to meet critical milestones.
• Employment eligibility: Must meet U.S. export-control/ITAR eligibility (U.S. person or otherwise eligible for required authorizations).

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science. Preferred: advanced degree (MS/PhD) in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering.

About the Company

Company: SpaceX

Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States

SpaceX is focused on developing space technologies to enable human exploration of Mars and beyond. The company is known for its advancements in rocketry and its Starlink satellite constellation, which delivers high-speed internet globally.