Senior Principal, Applications & Validation Engineering

Job Title

Senior Principal, Applications & Validation Engineering

Role Summary

Provide advanced applications and validation support for Rambus DDR4/DDR5 memory interface chips, focusing on system-level debug, failure analysis, and qualification for customers in South Korea and the Asia region.

Work with cross-functional engineering, marketing, and customer teams to secure design wins, validate new chip designs in server platforms, and deliver technical reports and presentations. Role follows a hybrid onsite/remote cadence (typical expectation: ~3 days onsite per week).

Experience Level

Senior — 12+ years of experience in hardware design, validation, and/or applications engineering.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include system-level debug, qualification, and customer-facing technical support.

• Analyze and debug complex server memory issues involving DRAM, memory interface chips, DIMMs, server platforms, and BIOS interactions.
• Manage customer technical issues through resolution and maintain customer relationships during qualification and debug.
• Support technical qualification of new chip designs to secure customer design wins.
• Validate and debug new memory interface chips for DDR5 server platforms.
• Collect and analyze system-level signal integrity and power data.
• Conduct failure analysis and prepare formal failure analysis and 8D reports.
• Capture customer technical feedback and communicate findings to Marketing and Engineering.
• Prepare technical documentation and present written and verbal technical updates to customers and management.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience; followed by strong/optional qualifications.

Must-have:

• Experience with DDR4 and DDR5 DIMM operation in Intel, AMD, or OEM server platforms.
• Practical understanding of signal integrity at clock rates ≥3 GHz.
• Experience with power management and I2C/I3C serial interfaces.
• Extensive hands-on experience with high-speed probing and lab equipment (high-speed oscilloscopes, etc.).
• Proven use of root-cause analysis techniques (fishbone, DOE, etc.).
• Ability to automate test and data analysis using scripting languages (Perl, Tcl, Python, or similar).
• Willingness and ability to travel to customer sites, including international travel.
• Fluent verbal and written communication skills in English and Korean.

Nice-to-have / Strongly desired:

• Understanding of ATE tester operation.
• Experience reading/modifying MRC BIOS code and using Intel/AMD platform debug tools.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering or a related technical field.

About the Company

Company: Rambus

Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California, USA

Rambus is a global leader in advanced semiconductor and technology solutions, specializing in enhancing data access and improving performance in computing, networking, and storage applications. The company is known for its innovative IP and solutions in memory, security, and interface technologies. With a strong focus on research and development, Rambus continues to push the boundaries of technology to meet the growing demands of the digital age.