Senior Validation & SI Correlation Engineer
About The Position
SambaNova Systems is hiring a Senior Hardware Validation & SI Correlation Engineer to connect simulation results with silicon and system-level measurements, ensuring high-speed links, control buses, and power rails perform reliably in next-generation AI server systems. The role focuses on validating PCIe Gen5/6, DDR5, and 112G/224G Ethernet interfaces in a data-center hardware environment. The engineer will lead signal-integrity modeling and measurement correlation, system-level electrical validation, and test-methodology development. This includes investigating simulation-to-measurement differences, validating control buses and power behavior, collaborating across SI, PI, and Firmware teams to resolve electrical issues, and automating lab data collection. The position works in a fast-paced hardware lab with access to advanced equipment and supports AI infrastructure deployments.
Requirements
- B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering; M.S. preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in high-speed digital design or hardware validation in data-center, systems-architecture, or server bring-up environments.
- Expertise with SI/EM tools such as Ansys HFSS/SIwave, Cadence Sigrity/Allegro, or Keysight ADS.
- Hands-on mastery of high-bandwidth real-time oscilloscopes, VNAs, and logic analyzers.
- Deep knowledge of high-speed protocol physical layers, including PCIe and IEEE 802.3, and low-speed control buses such as I2C and SPI.
- Strong fundamentals in digital circuit design, debugging, and computer architecture.
- Familiarity with power and thermal challenges in high-density AI clusters, including 48V power delivery and high di/dt transients.
- Programming fluency in Python or equivalent scripting languages such as Perl or Shell.
- PCIe Gen5/6 and 100G Ethernet expertise.
Nice To Haves
- M.S. or Ph.D. emphasizing Electromagnetics, Computer Architecture, or Power Electronics.
- Hands-on validation experience with GPU/TPU modules or AI-specific interconnects such as NVLink or CXL.
- Ability to build end-to-end automated test frameworks in Python or TCL, integrating lab equipment with Pandas/NumPy for rapid correlation.
- Transaction- and link-layer expertise in PCIe Gen5/6 and DDR5, beyond physical-layer knowledge.
Responsibilities
- Correlate pre- and post-layout signal-integrity simulations with physical lab measurements.
- Quantify simulation-versus-measurement gaps for PCIe Gen5/6, DDR5, and 112G/224G Ethernet using S-parameters, TDR, and eye-diagram analysis.
- Develop and refine electromagnetic models for PCB discontinuities, high-speed connectors, and vias.
- Investigate and resolve discrepancies related to manufacturing tolerances, material properties, and de-embedding inaccuracies.
- Lead validation of I2C, SPI, eSPI, UART, and SMBus housekeeping and control buses for protocol compliance and timing margins.
- Validate power-on/off sequences and correlate voltage-regulator control-loop simulations with measured transient response and ripple.
- Validate sideband signals, reset logic, and BMC hardware interfaces under intensive AI workloads.
- Collaborate with SI, PI, and Firmware teams to resolve system hangs and link-training failures caused by electrical noise or power instability.
- Author comprehensive Hardware Validation Plans covering critical electrical test points.
- Build Python-based automation scripts to collect data from VNAs, BERTs, and oscilloscopes and improve validation throughput and repeatability.
Benefits
- Equity and benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package.
- 95% premium coverage for employee medical insurance and 77% premium coverage for dependent medical insurance.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution.
- Dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, basic life, voluntary life, and AD&D insurance plans.
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options for health care, limited purpose, and dependent care.
- Headspace subscription.
- Gympass+ membership with access to physical gyms.
- One Medical membership.
- Counseling services through an Employee Assistance Program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
