Silicon Validation, Staff Engineer

Job Title

Silicon Validation, Staff Engineer

Role Summary

Lead post-silicon validation and characterization of high-speed mixed-signal IP (SerDes, PAM-4, etc.) in a lab-focused R&D team. Work closely with analog designers, systems engineers, and application teams to validate performance, debug silicon and board-level issues, and develop test methodologies that ensure products meet real-world requirements.

Experience Level

Mid-level — requires 5+ years of hands-on post-silicon validation, lab instrumentation, characterization, and debug experience.

Responsibilities

The role focuses on hands-on lab validation, automation, and collaboration to qualify IP and drive fixes prior to customer delivery.

• Validate mixed-signal IP using BERTs, real-time and sampling oscilloscopes, VNAs, TDRs and other lab instruments to verify performance and standards compliance.
• Develop and execute thorough test plans that stress devices under realistic conditions beyond checklist compliance.
• Debug silicon and board-level issues, perform root-cause analysis, and work with design teams to resolve non-conformance.
• Automate measurements and analysis using Python and MATLAB; process data and produce concise test reports.
• Design and build custom test boards and hardware fixtures when off-the-shelf solutions are insufficient.
• Specify and evaluate new lab equipment and components to meet evolving test requirements.
• Demonstrate product performance to internal stakeholders and customers; provide actionable data to inform design decisions.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience; nice-to-have items listed separately.

• 5+ years of hands-on post-silicon validation, characterization, and debug of mixed-signal or high-speed digital circuits.
• Practical experience with lab equipment: oscilloscopes, VNAs, spectrum analyzers, BERTs, sampling scopes, and TDRs (setup, calibration, and interpretation).
• Proficiency in Python and MATLAB for test automation, data processing, and analysis.
• Strong understanding of signal and system concepts (FFT, sampling theory, bandwidth, ISI, digital filtering) as applied to measurements.
• Ability to design and assemble test boards and custom hardware for validation campaigns.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills across schematic, board, and silicon levels and the ability to communicate findings to engineers and managers.
• Nice-to-have: hands-on experience with PAM-4 signaling, SerDes architectures, CTLE, TX FFE, and high-speed link validation.

Education Requirements

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or equivalent practical experience. Equivalent practical experience accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

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.