CPU Silicon Validation Engineer

Role Number: 200657890Team: HardwareLocation: Santa ClaraPosted: 2026-04-14SummaryImagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The same passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our commitment to leave the world better than we found it. Do you want to join us in these pursuits? Join us to help deliver the next groundbreaking Apple product!In this role, you will be at the center of a chip design effort that collaborates with many disciplines and has a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers. You will be part of a team responsible for the functional validation of our CPUs, with the aim of identifying logic design and circuit bugs. You will be developing CPU test content using our test generators, defining new test cases for our cutting-edge CPU designs, and spearheading our silicon bring-up efforts.Description• Work closely with CPU RTL and DV teams to understand changes to our CPU designs and to engineer test content for new CPU features• Create CPU validation test plans, ensuring all key features are covered• Develop SW workloads to stress test the CPU and integrate these into our existing validation environments• Help maintain and improve our random test generator by adding support for new CPU architectural and microarchitectural features• Drive the bring-up and execution of our silicon validation tools in pre-silicon (FPGAs) and post-silicon (development boards)• Debug functional silicon failures closely with Design and DV counterpartsMinimum QualificationsMinimum BS and 3+ years of relevant industry experienceExperience with CPU architectureExperience in programming in C or C++ and scripting in Python or PerlPreferred QualificationsBS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer EngineeringUnderstanding of CPU architecture including instruction sets, pipelines, caches, and memory subsystemsExperience with assembly programming (ARM ISA is a plus)Knowledge of operating system fundamentals including kernel execution, privilege levels, memory management, and virtual machinesGood understanding of the logic design and verification processBackground in silicon bring-up and system debug experience is a plusStrong problem-solving skillsPay & BenefitsAt Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple BenefitsNote: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.EEO StatementApple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicantAccessibilityAt Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.Learn about accessibility in Apple’s workplaceLearn about reasonable accommodations for job applicantsApplication DeadlineApple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.