Silicon Validation Engineer

Job Title

Silicon Validation Engineer

Role Summary

Validate and characterize high-speed SerDes PHY silicon in an R&D lab. Work closely with analog designers, hardware engineers, and product teams to bring up silicon, debug failures, and produce reproducible test data.

The role is hands-on: building test fixtures and boards, using high-speed measurement equipment, programming FPGAs for test patterns, and automating data collection and analysis.

Experience Level

Mid-level — typical profile: experienced engineer (approximately 3–7 years) working independently in lab-based silicon validation.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include silicon bring-up, characterization, and debug of SerDes PHYs in the lab.

• Test silicon implementations of high-speed SerDes PHYs using oscilloscopes, network analyzers, signal generators, and signal-integrity tools.
• Debug failures across silicon, test boards, measurement setup, and firmware; identify root causes and drive fixes.
• Run characterization across PVT corners and operating conditions and produce detailed, reproducible test reports.
• Design and build custom test boards and hardware to support bring-up, debug, and characterization.
• Program FPGAs (Verilog) to generate test patterns, control interfaces, and automate protocol tests (USB, PCIe, SATA, Ethernet).
• Develop test automation and analysis scripts in Python or MATLAB to streamline data collection and reporting.
• Collaborate with analog designers to validate design assumptions and advise on performance, power, and area trade-offs.

Requirements

Concise list of must-have and desirable skills for successful candidates.

Must-have

• Practical experience debugging analog/mixed-signal silicon and isolating issues across silicon, hardware, firmware, and test setup.
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment: oscilloscopes, network analyzers, signal generators, power supplies, and signal-integrity tools.
• Software skills for test automation and analysis: Python or MATLAB.
• FPGA programming experience (Verilog) for test pattern generation and protocol control.
• Working knowledge of high-speed interface protocols (USB, PCIe, SATA, Ethernet) and signaling (NRZ, PAM4).
• Ability to design and assemble test fixtures and custom test boards.

Nice-to-have

• Experience with equalization techniques, SerDes architecture, and advanced signal-integrity analysis.
• Familiarity with device-control interfaces such as JTAG, I2C, or SPI.
• Prior experience validating IP intended for automotive or data-center SoCs.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent practical experience. The posting explicitly allows "equivalent practical experience" in lieu of a degree; no specific advanced degree or certifications were required.

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.