Job Description

Role: SoC Validation Engineer - Pre-Silicon & Post-Silicon

Location: Canada, Remote

Contract

Summary

We are looking for an experienced SoC Validation Engineer to drive end-to-end validation of complex System-on-Chip (SoC) designs across both pre-silicon and post-silicon phases. The ideal candidate brings deep domain expertise in SoC IP subsystems - including Clock, Reset, Ethernet, I/O controllers, and related infrastructure IPs - with proven ability to develop test strategies, execute validation plans, and root-cause failures from simulation through first silicon and production.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Silicon Validation

• Develop comprehensive verification and validation plans for SoC-level IP subsystems including Clock Generation/Distribution (PLLs, clock muxes, dividers), Reset Architecture, Ethernet MAC/PHY, and I/O interfaces (GPIO, I2C, SPI, UART, JTAG)
• Create and execute directed and constrained-random tests targeting IP integration, connectivity, and functional correctness at the SoC level
• Verify clock domain crossings (CDC), reset sequencing, and power-on reset (POR) behavior
• Validate Ethernet data path integrity, link negotiation, and MAC-to-PHY (MII/RGMII/SGMII) interfaces
• Perform functional coverage analysis and drive coverage closure across IP blocks
• Collaborate with design and architecture teams on RTL debug, assertions, and specification reviews
• Execute validation on emulation/FPGA prototyping platforms (Palladium, Veloce, Protium) for early software/firmware integration

Post-Silicon Validation

• Bring up and validate SoC IPs on first silicon and platform boards
• Develop and execute post-silicon test plans covering:
• Clock: PLL lock times, frequency accuracy, jitter characterization, clock switching, glitch-free mux transitions
• Reset: Reset assertion/de-assertion sequencing, warm/cold reset flows, watchdog timer resets, brown-out detection
• Ethernet: Link bring-up, auto-negotiation, packet integrity (CRC/FCS), throughput/latency, loopback testing, PTP/IEEE 1588 timestamping
• I/O: Pin mux configuration, drive strength, voltage levels, protocol compliance (I2C/SPI/UART timing), interrupt routing
• Debug silicon failures using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, JTAG/DFx, and embedded trace tools
• Perform root-cause analysis of post-silicon bugs and drive resolution with design and firmware teams
• Characterize IP performance under varying voltage, frequency, and temperature (VFT) conditions
• Develop and maintain automated test frameworks for regression and production testing
• Collaborate with platform, firmware, BSP, and driver teams on system-level integration and debug

General

• Author and maintain validation documentation: test plans, debug reports, coverage metrics, and known-issue databases
• Develop Python/Perl/Tcl scripts for test automation, log parsing, and result analysis
• Participate in silicon bring-up triage, failure analysis, and bug review meetings
• Mentor junior engineers and drive process improvements in validation methodology
• Interface with IP vendors for third-party IP integration, compliance, and issue resolution

Required Qualifications

• Education: B.S./M.S./Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
• Experience: 10+ years in SoC validation (pre-silicon and/or post-silicon)
• Deep understanding of SoC architecture and IP integration concepts

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