Sr Engineer I - Validation (Systems)

Job Title

Sr Engineer I - Validation (Systems)

Role Summary

Senior System Validation Engineer on the Data Center Solutions team responsible for silicon bring-up, system integration, and validation of storage and NVMe/PCIe SoCs. The role designs and builds validation infrastructure, develops and executes test plans, and drives cross-domain debugging (hardware, firmware, FPGA, system).

Work is lab-focused using prototype ICs, validation boards, FPGAs, protocol analyzers, and automated test environments to validate functionality, performance, and standards compliance.

Experience Level

Senior — minimum 5 years of relevant pre- and/or post-silicon SoC validation experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include bringing up prototype systems, creating validation assets, and debugging complex system issues.

• Integrate prototype SoC hardware and firmware into complete system solutions for functional testing and firmware development.
• Design, execute, and document feature-, block-, and system-level tests against specs and industry standards.
• Build and maintain validation infrastructure: boards, FPGAs, embedded software, device drivers, and test scripts.
• Develop test firmware/scripts and integrate them into automated test suites.
• Perform hands-on lab testing and debugging using oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, and other high-speed test equipment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to isolate, report, and resolve hardware/firmware/system bugs.
• Lead technical activities in area of expertise and mentor junior engineers.
• Integrate AI-based tools to improve test efficiency and automation.
• Present technical results to internal stakeholders and external audiences as required.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for day-one contribution.

• Minimum 5 years of silicon/SoC validation experience (pre- and/or post-silicon).
• Proficient in C / C++ and Python (or Tcl) for test and firmware development.
• Hands-on experience with high-speed lab equipment: oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, logic analyzers, etc.
• Demonstrated SoC system-level debug across firmware, hardware, schematics, PCB, and FPGA environments.
• Strong foundation in data communications theory and high-speed signal fundamentals (SERDES, signal integrity concepts).
• Ability to develop and execute test plans independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Nice-to-have:

• SoC performance validation and tuning; PCIe compliance testing experience.
• Prototype board bring-up, schematic reading, and board modification experience.
• Experience with pre-silicon emulation platforms and FPGA toolchains; VHDL/Verilog familiarity.
• Experience with high-speed digital design, signal integrity, and SERDES debugging.
• Working knowledge of protocols (PCIe, DDR4/5, SAS, SATA, I2C, SPI) and protocol trace debugging.
• Host driver or OS experience (Linux or Windows); RTOS/ThreadX familiarity; MIPS firmware development is a plus.
• Familiarity with product security practices and integrating AI tools into validation workflows.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science.

About the Company

Company: Microchip

Headquarters: Chandler, Arizona, USA

Microchip is a leading semiconductor company focused on developing innovative solutions to enhance the human experience. With a commitment to empowering innovation, Microchip prioritizes the value of its employees by fostering a culture that supports their growth and contributions.