Zebu Flow Engineer

Job Title

Zebu Flow Engineer

Role Summary

Join SiFive's System Validation team to develop and maintain flows for modelling RISC-V CPUs on emulators (Synopsys ZeBu) and FPGA platforms. Integrate emulator flows into the internal wake-based build environment, support debug and failure analysis, and automate runtime workflows.

Experience Level

Entry-level — 1+ years of relevant engineering experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include building emulator and FPGA flows, troubleshooting, and automation.

• Design, build, and maintain a modular ZeBu model build flow within SiFive's wake-based build environment.
• Port compilation steps and designs to the internal build system for integration with other flows.
• Perform root-cause and failure analysis across RISC-V CPU hardware and software components.
• Use ZeBu features (waveform dumping) and hardware debug tools such as ILA and JTAG to validate and troubleshoot designs.
• Develop failure hypotheses and execute systematic elimination to isolate issues.
• Create and maintain Python and BASH scripts to automate debug workflows and integrate ZeBu runtime automation into the SiFive manager ecosystem.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with software and validation engineering teams.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and professional attributes. Education specifics are under Education Requirements.

• Strong understanding of digital logic design.
• Experience with Verilog and porting designs onto FPGA platforms.
• Familiarity with Synopsys ZeBu or similar emulation platforms and FPGA-based flows.
• Proficient with Linux and scripting (Python and BASH).
• Experience with waveform analysis and hardware debug tools (ILA, JTAG).
• Methodical approach to failure analysis and debugging.
• Proactive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and collaboration.

Education Requirements

Required: Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science or Electronics and Communication Engineering.

About the Company

Company: SiFive

Headquarters: San Mateo, California, United States

SiFive is a pioneering company in the RISC-V ecosystem, focused on transforming the future of computing by delivering high-performance, data-intensive RISC-V solutions. Their compute platforms empower leading technology firms to innovate across various markets, including AI, machine learning, and automotive sectors. SiFive is recognized for its commitment to ongoing innovation and fostering collaboration among talented teams, impacting lives by enabling advanced chip design.