Principal Post-Silicon Validation Engineer

Job Title

Principal Post-Silicon Validation Engineer

Role Summary

Lead post-silicon validation and characterization for next-generation coherent DSP ASICs from first silicon through production release. Drive validation strategy, enable bring-up, and partner with Architecture, RTL, Firmware, Systems, Product Engineering and customers to resolve silicon and system-level issues.

Technical leadership role focused on building validation infrastructure, defining methodologies, and delivering production-ready silicon in a fast-paced startup environment.

Experience Level

Senior - typically 8+ years of hands-on post-silicon validation, device bring-up, or DVT with complex ASICs/SoCs.

Responsibilities

Own post-silicon validation and characterization activities, lead debugging, and deliver data and reports required for production readiness.

• Lead first-silicon bring-up and system-level validation from bring-up to production release.
• Develop validation plans for functionality, performance, interoperability, stress, corner cases, and reliability.
• Use JTAG, scan, embedded debug, and board diagnostics to enable bring-up and fault isolation.
• Validate and characterize high-speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes, CXL, SPI, I2C, MDIO, etc.).
• Operate advanced lab equipment: oscilloscopes, BERTs, protocol/network analyzers, traffic generators, logic analyzers, and power measurement tools.
• Debug hardware, firmware, RTL, and system interactions; lead root-cause analysis and cross-team resolution.
• Develop Python-based automation for test execution, regression, characterization, analysis, and reporting.
• Document validation results, silicon characterization data, debug findings, and production readiness reports.
• Support early customer engagements to reproduce and resolve system-level issues.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience required to perform the role.

• 8+ years of hands-on post-silicon validation, DVT, or silicon bring-up experience with complex ASICs/SoCs.
• Proven experience taking first silicon to production in networking, communications, data center, AI, or HPC products.
• Strong silicon debug methodologies and structured root-cause analysis skills.
• Extensive experience using lab equipment for signal, protocol, and power analysis.
• Proficiency with one or more high-speed protocols (PCIe, Ethernet, SerDes, CXL, USB, SPI, I2C, etc.).
• Strong Python skills for automation, regression, and data analysis.
• Experience validating firmware, bootloaders, drivers, and hardware/software interfaces.
• Ability to read schematics and understand board design, power sequencing, and signal integrity for hardware debug.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills and ability to work onsite at the listed locations.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent practical experience).

Preferred Qualifications

Additional experience that will accelerate success in this role.

• Experience with coherent optical DSPs, networking ASICs, Ethernet switch silicon, AI accelerators, GPUs, storage controllers, or high-speed communications devices.
• Knowledge of Ethernet, PCIe, OIF, IEEE, and related compliance specifications and PHY/MAC/PCS/PMA layers.
• Experience building scalable validation automation, regression systems, dashboards, and data pipelines.
• Familiarity with hyperscale qualification and customer platform validation processes.
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading cross-discipline technical initiatives.

Work Location

Onsite at one of the company sites: Irvine, CA; San Jose, CA; or Ottawa, ON, Canada. Ability to work onsite is required.

Compensation

Annual base salary range for U.S. candidates: $150,000 - $250,000 (final offer depends on skills, experience, qualifications, and location).

Company Summary

Celero builds coherent DSP technology for AI infrastructure and hyperscale networking. The company is a fast-growth engineering startup focused on technical excellence and product delivery.

About the Company

Company: Celero Communications

Headquarters: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Designs and develops optical transceivers and ASIC solutions for next-generation optical modems, focusing on digital ASIC/RTL design, verification, and optical communication technologies.