Senior Staff Hardware Validation Engineer
SynopsysJob Title
Senior Staff Hardware Validation Engineer
Role Summary
Lead design and validation of PCBs and test hardware used for high-speed SERDES silicon validation. Work with cross-functional analog/digital designers and lab technicians to create reliable test setups, run PI/SI analysis, and support mass production of validation boards.
Role is based in the Mississauga R&D lab and focuses on practical PCB design, signal and power integrity, lab bring-up, and continuous improvement of hardware validation processes.
Experience Level
Senior - typical experience guidance: Bachelor's degree + 8 years relevant experience, or Master's degree + 6 years relevant experience (see Education Requirements for details).
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include hands-on PCB design, validation, and lab support for high-speed SERDES testing.
- Design PCBs for high-power, high-speed test chips with attention to signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI).
- Develop and optimize schematics, layouts, test points, and signal paths to enable silicon validation and test automation.
- Run or provide feedback on PI/SI simulations and use HFSS or similar tools to extract models and predict performance before fabrication.
- Debug hardware using high-speed oscilloscopes, power meters, IR cameras, and other lab equipment; implement board fixes and revisions.
- Document board bring-up, debug, and screening procedures for lab technicians and validation teams.
- Manage interactions with PCB fabrication partners to control design rules, manufacturability, and cost tradeoffs for production runs.
- Contribute to improving validation processes, test coverage, and lab infrastructure to increase throughput and repeatability.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience; plus items are listed where applicable.
- Hands-on experience with electronics test and measurement equipment in professional lab environments.
- Practical experience working with PCB fabrication houses on production builds, including managing design rules and manufacturability tradeoffs.
- Strong analytical and methodical troubleshooting skills for hardware and measurement setups.
- Ability to run or interpret PI/SI simulation results (HFSS or similar platforms) and apply outcomes to PCB layouts.
- Experience with high-speed serial communication design, particularly SERDES, is a plus.
- Experience with FPGA development tools, Verilog HDL, or test automation platforms is a plus.
- Clear technical communication and documentation skills for handoff to lab technicians and cross-functional teams.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or a related technical discipline (with ~8 years relevant experience), or Master's degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering (with ~6 years relevant experience). The posting indicates degree-plus-years guidance; equivalent practical experience is implied where experience requirements are specified.
About the Company
Company: Synopsys
Headquarters: Mountain View, California, USA
Synopsys is a leading company in electronic design automation (EDA) and semiconductor IP solutions. It provides tools and services for designing and verifying complex semiconductor devices and systems. The company plays a pivotal role in the semiconductor industry, helping engineers innovate and deliver higher-quality products faster. Synopsys is committed to advancing technology standards and offers a range of software and hardware solutions to its clients globally.
