Hardware Validation Engineer II

F5 Networks•Spokane, WA

About The Position

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive. Position Summary[DP1.1] The Hardware Development family group at F5 is responsible for a hardware-based product, from market definition through the design, production, and release stages of a product's life cycle. The area is responsible for materials, reliability, and production of electronic parts, components, or integrated circuitry, mechanical systems, and/or equipment. F5’s hardware development engineers are at the forefront of researching, designing, and developing new technologies and hardware, from market definition through the design, production, and release stages of a product's life cycle. Assesses the technical feasibility of new product features and concepts. Responsible for materials, reliability, and production of electronic parts, components, or integrated circuitry, mechanical systems, and/or equipment. This position supports the validation of next-generation BIG-IP appliances integrating Intel Xeon CPUs, AMD Versal FPGAs, Marvell Ethernet switches, and 400Gb optical interfaces. The engineer will execute validation plans, perform SI/PI analysis, and collaborate across design, layout, and compliance teams to ensure electrical robustness and performance.

Requirements

BSEE or equivalent
2–3 years in electrical validation or hardware testing
Experience with lab equipment: oscilloscope, VNA, BERT, etc.
Familiarity with high-speed protocols and FPGA workflows
Scripting skills (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW)
Intel Xeon platform experience
Ethernet switching and optical transceiver validation
SI/PI simulation tools (HyperLynx, Sigrity)
Regulatory compliance knowledge (IEEE, PCI-SIG, JEDEC)
Collaborate on assignments and problems of minimally complex scope, using judgment to select a course of action within described guidelines under moderate supervision.
Receive minimal instruction on day-to-day work and general instructions on new assignments. Begins to exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action. Work is completed with manager input as needed and reviewed based on general procedures and milestones.
Impact own team and other teams whose work activities are closely related, such as the Product Team, Engineers, Manufacturing, and Development.
Gain knowledge of business, standards, processes, and concepts.
Solid understanding of basic hardware design concepts. Know electronic test methodologies and equipment, and knowledge of practices regarding specifying, testing, and qualifying electrical components.
Strong ability to communicate basic concepts and exchange ideas with vendors, customers, management, and other team members clearly and concisely.

Responsibilities

Apply hardware engineering concepts in designing, developing, implementing, and testing minor components of sophisticated electronic products.
Collaborate with senior hardware engineers and managers to develop electronic parts, components, coordinated circuitry, mechanical systems, equipment and packaging, optical systems, and/or CPU systems.
Collaborate on schematic/layout reviews and compliance testing
Test, debug, and verify various electronic systems and products, and assist with test reports.
Validate high-speed interfaces: PCIe Gen5/Gen6, DDR5, 400Gb Ethernet
Perform SI/PI analysis and power margin testing
Support board bring-up and debug of prototype platforms
Automate test setups using Python, LabVIEW, etc.
Collaborate on schematic/layout reviews and compliance testing
Participate in evaluating the reliability of materials, properties, and techniques used in production.
Prepare and deliver findings and insights for colleagues and immediate managers, project leaders, and others in the team/group. Typically interacts with vendors, product development, architecture, manufacturing, and other engineering teams to understand and inform solutions to customer, product, and business problems.