Staff / Sr. Staff NVMe SSD Validation Engineer (DVT)

SK hynix•San Jose, CA

About The Position

SK hynix Memory Solutions is seeking a highly motivated Staff or Senior Staff Engineer to develop and execute test plans and methodologies for validating enterprise NVMe SSDs and their features. The role owns test execution and initial failure analysis, and drives issues to resolution with development and functional teams to ensure high product quality for customers. The engineer will validate devices and systems against NVMe, OCP, and PCIe specifications, product requirements, and customer needs; execute design validation testing (DVT) for release and test firmware; and report results and track defects. The position also involves working with third-party vendors on test suite updates, tool development, platform troubleshooting, and maintenance, while keeping current with industry and customer requirements and using AI tools to improve engineering efficiency. SK hynix describes a collaborative work environment that encourages career growth and offers a compensation and benefits package. Salary is determined based on factors including location, job grade, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, and internal equity.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in the data storage industry; enterprise SSD/NVMe experience is preferred.
Solid understanding of NVMe fundamentals, including Admin and I/O commands, Log Pages, Power Loss Protection (PLP), Controller Level Resets, and the Out-of-Band (OOB) interface.
Familiarity with storage test methodologies for NVMe, OCP, and PCIe requirements.
Ability to capture signal waveforms and PCIe traces for bus-level debugging.
Strong system and device debugging skills, with the ability to resolve complex issues independently.
Proficiency in developing automation scripts using JavaScript and Python.
Experience leveraging AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, SkHy, or Gemini to improve engineering productivity.
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or another applicable engineering field.

Nice To Haves

Experience with enterprise SSD/NVMe products.
Experience working with enterprise servers in Linux, ESXi, and Windows Server OS environments.

Responsibilities

Develop test plans for devices and systems under test based on NVMe, OCP, and PCIe specifications, product requirements, and customer requirements.
Perform DVT testing for release and test firmware, including executing test suites, reporting results, and filing and tracking defects.
Analyze failures, identify root causes, and collaborate with development and functional teams to resolve product challenges.
Engage with third-party vendors on test suite updates, tool development requests, platform troubleshooting, and maintenance.
Stay current on new features and functional changes in NVMe, OCP, PCIe, industry, and customer requirements.
Leverage AI tools to improve work efficiency.