Senior Validation and Characterization Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Validation & Characterization Engineer to lead silicon validation and characterization efforts for advanced mixed-signal products. This role involves close collaboration with design, systems, and product test teams to ensure robust, production-ready solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead silicon validation and characterization for mixed-signal ICs from first silicon through production release.
• Define validation strategies, test plans, and coverage for complex analog, digital, and mixed-signal blocks.
• Design and develop automated validation test environments using lab instrumentation and PXI-based systems.
• Develop and maintain software frameworks and scripts for validation, characterization, and regression testing (Python preferred).
• Design silicon validation boards; review schematics and layouts prior to fabrication.
• Perform detailed data analysis to evaluate performance, margin, robustness, and corner conditions.
• Collaborate closely with IC design, systems, product test, applications, and reliability teams to debug silicon issues and drive root-cause analysis.
• Support correlation between validation, characterization, and production test, helping define test limits and guardbands.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of validation methodologies, documentation practices, and lab efficiency.
• Communicate results clearly through documentation, presentations, and cross-functional design reviews.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.

Requirements

• BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Strong hands-on experience with silicon validation, characterization, or post-silicon debug of mixed-signal ICs.
• Solid understanding of mixed-signal circuit blocks such as ADCs, DACs, PLLs, amplifiers, regulators, and sensors.
• Experience developing automated test software and scripts (Python preferred).
• Familiarity with lab and PXI-based instrumentation (NI PXIe, oscilloscopes, signal generators, audio analyzers, etc.).
• Experience analyzing large datasets and presenting results using tools such as Excel, JMP, or Spotfire.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to debug complex hardware/software interactions.
• Excellent communication skills and experience working cross-functionally with design and test teams.

Qualifications

• Experience with audio or power-management IC validation.
• Familiarity with digital communication protocols (I2C, SPI, I2S, TDM, SPMI).
• Experience correlating validation results with production test coverage.
• Exposure to embedded firmware or lab automation platforms.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or acting as a technical lead on projects.