Silicon Validation Engineer

Validation Engineer

Location: San Diego, CA - Hybrid: 4 days in office, Friday remote

Our Team:

Semtech Corporation is a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for high-end consumer, enterprise computing, communications, and industrial equipment. As our future market opportunities have increased in recent years, we have continued to invest in disruptive analog platforms and have created innovative new solutions for a wide range of leading-edge products.

The Sensing Product Group located in our San Diego office has unique expertise in system-level platform solutions for Sensing Products including Touch & Proximity. These are leading edge low power touch-interface solutions integrated with highly accurate ADCs for enhanced sensing performance. These ultra-small, feature-rich sensing systems are optimized for a wide range of battery-powered, portable applications such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, wearables, handheld devices and other consumer, industrial or automotive control applications.

Job Summary

The Validation Engineer is responsible for pre- and post-silicon validation of mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs). Pre-silicon responsibilities include hardware emulation, FPGA prototyping, lab testing and debug. Post-silicon responsibilities encompass IC bring-up, hardware-firmware debug, bench characterization of analog and mixed-signal performance, and systematic root-cause analysis of silicon and system-level issues. The Silicon Validation Engineer will create test plans, run and analyze lab measurements, author characterization reports, and contribute to overall verification coverage closure. The role requires hands-on proficiency with lab instruments and measurement setups, combined with strong programming and scripting skills for test automation and data analysis. The Silicon Validation Engineer will interface closely with design, verification, product/test, and applications teams throughout the product development cycle.

Responsibilities

• Validate pre-silicon and post-silicon hardware and software/firmware developed by the design team to achieve target specifications.
• Define, debug and operate FPGA prototyping platforms for pre-silicon emulation and validations.
• Lead silicon validation test plan for IC designs, develop lab hardware and evaluation setup, drive bring-up and debug, run and analyze measurements.
• Develop tests that exercise the features of the design under test. Write scripts and instrument drivers to automate the validation. Leverage AI-assisted development tools and workflows for lab measurement automation, data analysis, and prototyping.
• Execute analog and mixed-signal performance characterization across corner conditions. Correlate measured with design expected results.
• Design and develop fixtures and other components to support validation.
• Analyze findings, debug hardware and software/firmware, and report to the design team.
• Author test plans, characterization reports, and documentation for reviews.
• Interface with system, digital, software/firmware, analog, verification and cross-functional teams.
• Provide technical support to test, product, and application engineers.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of work experience in hardware and software validation of semiconductors, electronic components, or similar.
• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• Strong analytical, synthesis and problem-solving skills.
• Hands-on experience with lab instruments - logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, supplies, multimeters - and the associated measurement methods.
• Proficiency in C/C++, scripting languages (Python), SW development, embedded systems.
• Experience with standard hardware protocols (e.g. I2C, I3C, SPI, MIPI, GPIB, JTAG, PCIe, etc.).
• Exposure to development boards, processors, microcontrollers, and FPGAs (e.g. AMD Vivado, etc.).
• Independent, self-motivated, rigorous, team player and able to follow through.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Willing and able to work onsite in San Diego, California.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with integrated circuit bring-up, pre/post-silicon validation, digital systems.
• Experience in AI coding tools (e.g. Cursor, Claude, GitHub Copilot) and associated workflows.
• Experience with MCU-based systems (e.g. ARM, RISC-V, PIC, STM32).
• Knowledge of RTL (SystemVerilog, Verilog, VHDL), FPGA tools, or Matlab.
• Familiarity with analog/mixed-signal circuit concepts and testing techniques.
• Experience with version control systems (Git) and scripted regression frameworks.

The intent of this job description is to describe the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically included in this description.

All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.

A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $94,000 - $134,000 USD. There are several factors taken into consideration in determining base salary, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, skills, education and experience, as well as job location and the value of other elements of an employee's total compensation package.