Senior Digital Validation Engineer

Job Title

Senior Digital Validation Engineer

Role Summary

Responsible for technical ownership of SoC validation across pre-silicon and post-silicon phases. The role focuses on ARM and RISC-V based architectures, low-level software, lab bring-up, scalable validation automation, and interface validation.

Works with design, system, and architecture teams to define validation strategy, execute silicon bring-up, debug complex system issues, and deliver automated, repeatable validation workflows.

Experience Level

Senior-level. At least 5 years of industry-related experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include defining and executing validation strategy, performing deep system analysis, leading bring-up and debug, and building automation and lab infrastructure to support repeatable validation.

• Own and drive block-level and system-level validation strategy, scope, coverage, and test planning.
• Analyze specifications and system use cases to ensure functional, performance, and interface coverage.
• Review validation strategies with design leads, system teams, and architects.
• Implement and maintain validation test infrastructure using C and Java.
• Validate interface functionality, performance, power behavior, and corner cases across operating modes.
• Lead validation on pre-silicon platforms such as FPGA emulation.
• Execute and guide post-silicon validation campaigns, including silicon bring-up, evaluation, and characterization.
• Perform hands-on lab validation using oscilloscopes, programmable power supplies, DMMs, source meters (SMUs), waveform generators, and temperature controllers.
• Design and implement automation solutions: automated test execution and sequencing; instrument control; data collection, analysis, and reporting; regression testing across silicon revisions.
• Develop automation primarily using Python, integrating low-level C test code with higher-level control frameworks.
• Drive hardware/software co-debug and root-cause analysis of interface, protocol, and timing-related issues.
• Mentor junior engineers and promote validation and automation best practices.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience required for this role, followed by preferred additions.

• Must-have: At least 5 years industry experience in SoC digital validation; strong embedded C programming experience with ARM or RISC-V microcontrollers; proficiency in at least one object-oriented language (Java, C++, C#); automation and scripting experience (preferably Python).
• Experience validating SoC communication interfaces such as I2C/I3C, SPI, SPMI, ISO-UART (7816).
• Hands-on lab experience with oscilloscopes, programmable power supplies, DMMs, SMUs, waveform/signal generators, and temperature/thermal controllers.
• Proven ability to debug complex issues across protocol, hardware, firmware, and system levels; strong ownership and technical judgment.
• Nice-to-have: Background in design verification or close collaboration with DV teams; post-silicon logic debug experience; experience developing firmware instrumentation or debug hooks; familiarity with ARM- or RISC-V-based SoC architectures; experience improving validation workflows via automation or regression frameworks.

Education Requirements

Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering is specified.

About the Company

Company: NXP Semiconductors

Headquarters: Nijmegen, Netherlands

NXP Semiconductors N.V. is a global semiconductor company that provides High Performance Mixed Signal and Standard Product solutions. With over 45,000 employees and operations in more than 35 countries, NXP is a leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, catering to automotive, industrial IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. The company is committed to innovation and sustainability, advancing a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through technology.