CPU Validation Engineer

Intel•Austin, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a CPU Validation Engineer at Intel, you will help ensure the functionality, performance, and reliability of CPU products. The role is part of Intel Corporation's Component Design team, which develops processors and related technologies. You will develop and execute validation plans, perform silicon debug, and work with cross-functional teams to optimize designs and resolve issues throughout the product life cycle. The position involves validating CPU internals and system-level integration, creating validation infrastructure and test content, and helping ensure silicon readiness across simulation, emulation, FPGA, and other environments.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field.
Knowledge of CPU architecture.
Coursework in VLSI, digital design, or a related area.
Knowledge of a coding language such as C/C++ or Python.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Verilog, SystemVerilog, and x86 assembly coding.
Use of AI agents in projects, college classes, or software development.
Familiarity with RTL simulation and emulation environments.
Experience debugging RTL at the module level or diagnosing system-simulation failures at the SoC level.
Knowledge of basic lab hardware and equipment, such as oscilloscopes and power supplies.
Excellent analytical and debugging skills, with a creative approach to problem-solving.
Effective collaboration skills for working across teams.

Responsibilities

Define, develop, and perform functional validation of CPU internals and CPU integration in system-level features, with a focus on performance- and power-efficient cores.
Use hardware- and software-level tools and techniques to achieve validation coverage and assess performance, power, and area goals.
Review proposed design changes and determine their impact on validation plans, tasks, and timelines.
Develop CPU validation methodologies and test plans, execute validation plans, and collaborate on design optimization, troubleshooting, and failure analysis.
Apply knowledge of CPU core architecture, processor microarchitecture, and design.
Perform silicon debug to identify root causes and resolve functional and triage failures related to CPU issues.
Test interactions between CPU features using validation infrastructure.
Develop postsilicon validation infrastructure, including performance monitors, behavioral checkers, and state-space coverage, as well as test environments.
Publish CPU validation reports, review results, and communicate findings to relevant teams.
Collaborate with architecture, design, verification, board, platform, and manufacturing teams to maintain and improve debug and validation strategies, methodologies, and processes for CPU interfaces.
Develop content that creates or increases specific IP interactions using tools and techniques such as microcode patches, firmware, or custom OS builds.
Contribute throughout the product life cycle by developing and validating content and infrastructure, and bug hunting in simulation, emulation, and FPGA environments to ensure silicon readiness.