Silicon Validation/Characterization Engineer

Job Title

Silicon Validation/Characterization Engineer

Role Summary

Hands-on engineer responsible for first-silicon bring-up, validation, and characterization of memory PHY and high-speed interface test chips and evaluation platforms. Work in a lab environment with design and firmware teams to verify functionality, characterize performance across corners, and drive release readiness.

Experience Level

Mid-level - typically 3+ years of semiconductor industry experience in silicon validation, characterization, test, or product engineering.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include bringing up silicon, executing characterization plans, debugging issues, and delivering actionable results to stakeholders.

• Lead first-silicon bring-up and validation for DDR6, DDR5, LPDDR6/X, LPDDR5/5X, MRDIMM, and HBM test chips and evaluation platforms.
• Develop and execute validation plans covering functionality, parametric characterization, margin analysis, and reliability testing across voltage, frequency, process, and temperature corners.
• Perform electrical characterization: eye diagram analysis, jitter, timing margins, VREF optimization, power consumption, and signal integrity metrics; correlate silicon results with simulation and design expectations.
• Drive systematic debug and root-cause analysis across silicon, firmware, board, and test infrastructure using lab instruments and data analytics.
• Build automated validation frameworks and reusable test infrastructure using Python, C/C++, and scripting to improve data collection and workflows.
• Contribute to multilayer PCB design for characterization platforms, validation boards, and customer evaluation kits.
• Produce characterization reports, present findings to stakeholders and customers, and maintain validation documentation supporting release readiness.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for immediate contribution; nice-to-have items noted separately.

• Minimum ~3 years semiconductor industry experience in silicon validation, characterization, test, or product engineering.
• Strong understanding of DDR/LPDDR/HBM protocols, high-speed interfaces, and interface IP/PHY architectures.
• Familiarity with digital and mixed-signal semiconductor design concepts.
• Knowledge of PCB signal integrity and power integrity concepts relevant to board-level characterization.
• Hands-on experience with lab instrumentation: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power analyzers, SMUs, pattern generators, and ATE; test program generation experience.
• Experience with statistical analysis, correlation studies, margin analysis, failure analysis, and interpreting large datasets to drive engineering decisions.
• Proficiency with scripting and programming for test automation (examples: Python, MATLAB, TCL, PERL) and experience with C/C++.
• Understanding of reliability testing and qualification standards (JEDEC, automotive-related specifications) is expected.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, or a related discipline.

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.