Principal Verification Engineer

Job Title

Principal Verification Engineer

Role Summary

As a verification architect on the CPU/IP team, you will define and drive verification strategies for highly configurable RISC-V cores and related IP. You will collaborate with architects, microarchitecture designers, and verification leads to create test plans, identify corner cases, and ensure coverage and closure.

Work focuses on CPU cores, memory management units (MMUs), and virtualization features across multiple product generations.

Experience Level

Senior — 12+ years of relevant experience. Candidates should have extensive experience in Core/CPU functional verification and memory management verification.

Responsibilities

The principal responsibilities are to establish robust verification processes and ensure functional correctness of CPU/IP designs.

• Develop and adopt state-of-the-art verification methodologies and flows for in-house designs.
• Create verification strategies and detailed test plans for features and components.
• Participate in microarchitecture and design phases to ensure design-for-verification.
• Work with design and DV teams to identify corner cases and failure modes.
• Drive verification quality using coverage metrics, failure analysis, and closure activities.
• Lead or coordinate verification efforts for MMUs, including hypervisor and guest virtualization scenarios.
• Mentor and influence cross-functional teams and DV leads to align on verification intent and execution.

Requirements

Key skills and experience required or preferred.

• Must-have: 12+ years of relevant verification experience, including significant Core/CPU functional verification background and strong experience in memory management verification.
• Must-have: Deep understanding of computer architecture and verification flow (test generation, failure analysis, coverage, and closure).
• Must-have: Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills; experienced applying object-oriented programming principles in verification environments.
• Preferred: Direct experience with microarchitecture, instruction set design, or CPU pipeline optimization.
• Preferred: Functional programming experience and familiarity with modern verification tools and methodologies.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate across architects, designers, and verification teams.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a similar technical discipline is listed; Ph.D. is also mentioned. Equivalent practical experience is acceptable.

About the Company

Company: SiFive

Headquarters: San Mateo, California, United States

SiFive is a pioneering company in the RISC-V ecosystem, focused on transforming the future of computing by delivering high-performance, data-intensive RISC-V solutions. Their compute platforms empower leading technology firms to innovate across various markets, including AI, machine learning, and automotive sectors. SiFive is recognized for its commitment to ongoing innovation and fostering collaboration among talented teams, impacting lives by enabling advanced chip design.