Silicon Validation Lead, Principal Engineer - 19499
About The Position
Synopsys is seeking an accomplished engineer to lead silicon validation of high-speed serial communication IP. The role bridges simulation and silicon, validating functionality and performance against architectural intent and ensuring robust results across complex systems. It includes hands-on hardware bring-up, firmware integration, early product characterization, and resolution of silicon issues. The engineer will validate sim-to-silicon performance for algorithms, impairments, and key metrics; guide system teams on hardware-correlated models and tuning; and improve SerDes algorithms and configurations to address performance gaps. The role also incorporates customer evaluation-board learnings, reviews firmware regression tests, supports customer bring-up, and communicates findings to Platform Architects and Product Owners. The position is part of Synopsys’ Enterprise SerDes R&D team, collaborating with analog, digital, and hardware engineering experts on next-generation connectivity solutions. The role is based in Sunnyvale, California, and is not remote eligible.
Requirements
- BSc or MSc in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
- 10 or more years of experience in silicon validation, high-speed interfaces, and system-level performance analysis.
- Expertise in SerDes design and validation, including PCIe and Ethernet protocols.
- Strong knowledge of signal integrity, equalization, coding, and CDR architectures.
- Hands-on experience with lab validation, debug tools, and sim-to-silicon correlation.
- Familiarity with firmware integration and regression testing methodologies.
- Innovative, detail-oriented, and results-driven.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams.
- Adaptable and customer-focused, with a passion for solving complex technical challenges.
Responsibilities
- Lead silicon validation of IP functionality and performance, ensuring alignment with architectural intent.
- Support hardware bring-up and firmware integration for early product-version characterization.
- Drive root-cause analysis, workarounds, and fixes for issues uncovered during characterization.
- Manage a dedicated validation effort in parallel with characterization activities.
- Validate sim-to-silicon performance of algorithms, impairments, and key metrics such as AFE curves.
- Provide feedback to system teams on hardware-correlated models and performance tuning.
- Develop improvements to SerDes algorithms and configurations to address performance gaps.
- Incorporate learnings from customer evaluation boards into future developments.
- Review firmware regression tests for repeatability, drift, and robustness.
- Support customer bring-up and drive resolution of silicon debug issues.
- Communicate findings to Platform Architects and Product Owners for continuous platform improvement.
Benefits
- May be eligible for an annual bonus, equity, and other discretionary bonuses.
- Comprehensive health, wellness, and financial benefits as part of a competitive total rewards package.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
