Senior Staff Hardware Verification Engineer

Job Title

Senior Staff Hardware Verification Engineer

Role Summary

Lead verification activities for complex processor, DSP, and AI-accelerator designs on the Hexagon DSP AI team. Work with architects, design engineers, and software teams to ensure functional correctness and high-quality silicon.

Experience Level

Senior level - requires substantial industry experience (see Education Requirements for explicit experience guidance).

Responsibilities

Primary verification leadership and execution responsibilities:

• Lead verification of processor, DSP, AI accelerator, and system-level hardware designs.
• Develop verification plans, testbenches, coverage strategies, and reusable infrastructure.
• Execute verification using constrained-random, coverage-driven, assertion-based methodologies; use simulation, emulation, and formal analysis where appropriate.
• Debug RTL and system-level issues and drive closure of verification gaps across projects.
• Collaborate with architecture and design teams to identify verification risks early.
• Analyze coverage/verification metrics and implement automation to improve productivity.
• Mentor and guide junior verification engineers; contribute to process and tool improvements.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience (concise):

• Extensive hardware verification experience (senior-level; see Education Requirements for formal experience statements).
• Strong experience with SystemVerilog and UVM.
• Experience verifying complex CPU, GPU, DSP, AI accelerator, networking, or SoC designs.
• Solid understanding of computer architecture, microprocessor design, and digital design fundamentals.
• Proficiency in programming/scripting: C, C++, Python, or similar.
• Strong debugging and root-cause analysis skills across RTL, system, and software layers.
• Familiarity with verification metrics and coverage closure activities; ability to build reusable verification IP and automation.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with formal verification methodologies and tools.
• Experience with emulation, FPGA prototyping, or post-silicon validation.
• Knowledge of AI/ML acceleration architectures, vector processing, or custom compute engines.
• Familiarity with low-power and performance verification techniques.

Education Requirements

Degrees and equivalent-experience language found in the posting: Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Science, or a related field is cited. Preferred: Master's or PhD in those fields. The posting also lists experience combinations as alternatives to degree-only requirements (examples found in the source): a 10+ years hardware design verification expectation; or equivalently a Bachelor's + 6+ years, Master's + 5+ years, or PhD + 4+ years in ASIC design/verification/validation/integration. Applications with equivalent practical experience may be considered.

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.