Principal Engineer, System Diagnostics

Job Title

Principal Engineer, System Diagnostics

Role Summary

Join the Platform Engineering team to design and deliver low-level diagnostics and test software for board, switch, and optics development of high-performance network switch platforms. The role focuses on hardware bring-up, lab validation, and automated diagnostic frameworks to ensure platform reliability and production readiness.

This position may require access to technology or information subject to U.S. export control laws; applicants must be eligible for such access. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation during the selection process should contact Marvell HR.

Experience Level

Senior-level. The posting specifies a Bachelors degree with ~1015 years of related experience or a Masters degree with ~510 years of related experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include diagnostic software development, hardware bring-up, and cross-functional coordination.

• Design and implement low-level diagnostic software, test suites, and APIs for network switch hardware.
• Create test plans for ASICs, SerDes, memory interfaces (DDR/HBM), PCIe, power management, and thermal control.
• Support initial board bring-up and debug early prototype hardware to identify root causes.
• Deliver diagnostic coverage for integration into factory manufacturing and production testing.
• Build automated test frameworks and scripts to execute diagnostics, collect metrics, and analyze failures.
• Collaborate with Hardware, ASIC, Firmware, and Network OS teams to define diagnostic requirements and testability hooks.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance on hardware debug and diagnostic software.
• Identify testability and production-readiness risks and drive mitigation and resolution.

Requirements

Required technical skills and experience for the role.

Must-have:

• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded or low-level software development.
• Strong scripting skills in Python or Bash for automation.
• Working knowledge of Linux environments, drivers, kernel concepts, and memory mapping.
• Understanding of switch architecture, high-speed signal integrity, SerDes, and peripheral protocols (I2C, SPI, MDIO).
• Experience with PCIe and peripheral management.
• Hands-on lab debug skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automated test infrastructure.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and experience coordinating with ODM/JDM/CM partners.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with networking ASICs or switch silicon (e.g., Broadcom, Marvell, Intel Barefoot).
• Familiarity with networking protocols (Ethernet, TCP/IP, Layer 2/3) and optical transceivers.
• Knowledge of U-Boot, ONIE, and rack-scale management (OpenBMC, PDU, IPMI, Redfish).

Education Requirements

Posting requests a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field (with ~1015 years of experience). A Masters degree in a related technical field is preferred (with ~510 years of experience). No specific certifications were listed and equivalent-experience language was not explicitly stated.

About the Company

Company: Marvell Technology

Headquarters: Santa Clara, California, United States

Marvell’s semiconductor solutions serve as essential building blocks of the data infrastructure connecting our world, driving innovation across enterprise, cloud, AI, and carrier architectures. The company focuses on creating transformative technology that shapes the future.