SerDes Characterization Engineer, Platforms

Google•Sunnyvale, CA

1d•$132,000 - $189,000

About The Position

Be part of a team that develops custom silicon solutions powering Google’s direct-to-consumer products. Within the Platforms Infrastructure Engineering team, this role contributes to hardware validation by executing electrical characterization and validation test plans for high-speed Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) interfaces in a laboratory setting. The work includes operating complex test benches and automated test frameworks to run extensive parametric sweeps across voltage, temperature, and process corners (PVT). The engineer helps triage measurement anomalies, maintain laboratory test setups, and present structured measurement results to the broader engineering team. The Platforms Infrastructure Engineering team designs and builds hardware and software technologies that power Google’s services, including custom hardware for its computing infrastructure.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
At least 2 years of experience in a hardware laboratory environment working with test instrumentation such as oscilloscopes, BERTs, or power supplies.
Experience with scripting languages such as Python for test automation or data processing.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
Experience with automated test execution and lab instrument communication protocols such as SCPI, GPIB, Ethernet, or USB.
Familiarity with SerDes concepts, including modulation schemes, eye diagrams, jitter, and BER, and with basic signal integrity fundamentals.
Excellent collaborative mindset and willingness to learn advanced characterization methodologies.
Strong laboratory discipline and meticulous attention to measurement accuracy and test documentation.

Responsibilities

Execute electrical characterization and validation test plans for high-speed SerDes interfaces in the laboratory.
Operate lab test benches consisting of high-bandwidth oscilloscopes, BERTs, temperature chambers, logic analyzers, and precision power supplies.
Run automated test frameworks to perform extensive parametric sweeps across voltage, temperature, and process corners (PVT).
Triage measurement failures and anomalies, perform basic root cause analysis, and assist engineers with in-depth debugging.
Maintain laboratory test setups, calibrate test equipment, verify RF cable and fixture integrity, and track hardware assets.
Summarize, document, and present structured measurement results and trend charts to the broader engineering team.