Silicon Validation Software Engineer (Sr Staff)

You will work on validation infrastructure that directly impacts the quality and time-to-market of high-speed mixed-signal IP that powers the semiconductor industry.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain Python-based automation frameworks and software tools that drive silicon validation, characterization, and system-level debug workflows
• Build automated test flows and data processing pipelines that turn raw lab measurements into actionable insights and reports
• Work directly with lab instrumentation to enable instrument control, data acquisition, and validation workflows using protocols like JTAG, I2C, SPI, and UART
• Debug complex issues that span the hardware-software interface during silicon bring-up, collaborating with analog designers, systems engineers, and firmware teams to isolate root causes
• Enhance and scale existing validation tools and frameworks to improve efficiency, reliability, and coverage across multiple IP product lines
• Manage code repositories, branching strategies, and version control workflows using Git or GitLab to ensure robust, maintainable software infrastructure
• Mentor junior engineers on software development best practices, validation methodologies, and cross-domain problem-solving techniques

The Impact You Will Have

• Accelerate silicon bring-up and validation cycles by building automation that eliminates manual bottlenecks and increases test coverage
• Improve the quality and reliability of Synopsys mixed-signal IP solutions by enabling faster, more comprehensive characterization and debug
• Reduce time-to-market for high-speed IP products by delivering scalable validation infrastructure that supports multiple concurrent projects
• Strengthen cross-functional collaboration by creating tools and workflows that bridge the gap between hardware design, firmware, and software teams
• Enable better decision-making across validation activities by improving data visibility, analysis capabilities, and reporting accuracy
• Build a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement by mentoring engineers and sharing knowledge across the team
• Contribute to the long-term success of the Mississauga R&D team by establishing best practices in validation software development and tooling

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 8+ years of experience in software development within silicon validation or hardware test environments, or Master's degree with 6+ years of experience
• Strong proficiency in Python for test automation, data analysis, and instrumentation control
• Proven experience developing hardware automation frameworks, validation tools, or scripting solutions that have been deployed in production validation environments
• Solid understanding of version control systems such as Git or GitLab, including repository management, branching strategies, and code review workflows
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills that span both software and hardware domains, with the ability to isolate issues across the stack
• Experience with low-level hardware communication protocols such as JTAG, I2C, SPI, UART, or similar for IC bring-up, debugging, and validation is highly desirable
• Hands-on experience working in laboratory environments with test equipment and instrumentation is a strong plus