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Emulation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

K2 Space

Senior ASIC Emulation Engineer

Seattle, WA

$170K - $250K/yr

The Role We are seeking a Senior ASIC Emulation Engineer who will lead the bring-up, deployment, and optimization of our pre-silicon emulation platforms. You will work closely with architecture, RTL ...

Apple

Emulation Verification Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

Description As a member of the Emulation verification team, we play a key role in using Emulation for verification of large SoCs. The overall work will involve porting the design onto the Palladium ...

Comcast

Senior Adversary Emulation Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$119K - $163K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Adversary Emulation Engineer to help establish and mature adversary emulation as a repeatable capability within Threat Detection. This role sits at the intersection of ...

Micron

HBM Hardware Emulation Architect

Richardson, TX · On-site

$146K - $309K/yr

As an Hardware Emulation Architect on the HBM architecture team you will be responsible for architecting, enabling, and deploying hardware emulation capabilities for next generation HBM products. You ...

Toyota

Project Manager, Emulation

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

The Project Manager, Emulation, is responsible for the intake, planning, execution, and delivery tracking of all emulation projects. This role ensures that emulation work is clearly defined, properly ...

Marvell

Senior Staff Emulation Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

The Emulation Center of Excellence (CoE) team is key part of this group, with global ownership and responsibility for delivering emulation infrastructure, validating the design on emulation and drive ...

K2 Space

Senior ASIC Emulation Engineer

$170K - $250K/yr

The Role We are seeking a Senior ASIC Emulation Engineer who will lead the bring-up, deployment, and optimization of our pre-silicon emulation platforms. You will work closely with architecture, RTL ...

K2 Space

OR

$170K - $250K/yr

The Role We are seeking a Senior ASIC Emulation Engineer who will lead the bring-up, deployment, and optimization of our pre-silicon emulation platforms. You will work closely with architecture, RTL ...

Apple

Emulation Verification Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

Description As a member of the Emulation verification team, we play a key role in using Emulation for verification of large SoCs. The overall work will involve porting the design onto the Palladium ...

Waymo

Silicon Emulation Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$175K - $215K/yr

Design, implement, and optimize emulation testbenches, balancing performance and debug capabilities based on user needs and hardware constraints * Write end-to-end synthesizable transactors to ...

Waymo

Silicon Emulation Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$175K - $215K/yr

Design, implement, and optimize emulation testbenches, balancing performance and debug capabilities based on user needs and hardware constraints * Write end-to-end synthesizable transactors to ...

Qualcomm

Emulation Methodology Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$140K - $210K/yr

The Emulation team works closely with architects, designers, verification engineers, software engineers, and customers. The team is currently seeking candidates with experience in the following ...

Cisco

Emulation Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$152K - $219K/yr

Developing emulation infrastructure using C/C++ and TCL * As a team member, work closely with the design, DV, power, and post-silicon diagnostic teams. * Assist with test plan design, test ...

Mythic

Senior Silicon Emulation Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$120K - $225K/yr

Mythic's Digital Design Team is seeking a Silicon Emulation Engineer to support the development and validation of AI accelerator and AI-centric SoCs using hardware emulation platforms. This role is ...

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Emulation information

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How much do emulation jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for emulation in the United States is $52.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.42 and $63.22 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is emulation?

Emulation refers to the process of imitating the functionality of one computer system or device on another. In technology jobs, emulation professionals often create software or hardware environments that mimic the behavior of different platforms, allowing software to run as if it were on the original hardware. This is especially useful for testing, development, and running legacy applications. Emulation plays a crucial role in areas like software development, gaming, and chip design, ensuring compatibility and preserving older systems.

What is the difference between Emulation vs Simulation?

AspectEmulationSimulation
PurposeReplicates hardware/software behavior in real-time for testing and developmentModels system behavior to analyze performance or predict outcomes
AccuracyHigh fidelity, closely mimics actual hardware/softwareVariable accuracy, focuses on behavior over exact replication
Work EnvironmentUsed in hardware/software development, testing labsUsed in research, training, and analysis
CredentialsKnowledge of hardware, software, and testing toolsUnderstanding of system modeling and analysis

Emulation and simulation are both vital in technology development. Emulation provides a real-time, high-fidelity replication of hardware or software, ideal for testing and debugging. Simulation offers a broader analysis of system behavior, useful for research and performance prediction. While they share overlapping skills, emulation emphasizes real-world accuracy, whereas simulation focuses on modeling system dynamics.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an emulation engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Emulation Engineer, you need a strong background in digital design, hardware verification, and a relevant degree in electrical engineering or computer science. Familiarity with hardware description languages (HDLs) like Verilog/VHDL, emulation platforms (such as Cadence Palladium or Mentor Veloce), and scripting languages is crucial. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective collaboration distinguish top professionals in this field. These skills are vital for efficiently validating complex hardware systems, reducing time-to-market, and ensuring product reliability.

What are common challenges faced by professionals working in emulation, and how can they overcome them?

Professionals in emulation roles often encounter challenges such as keeping pace with rapidly evolving hardware architectures and ensuring accurate replication of complex system behaviors. Debugging compatibility issues and optimizing for performance without sacrificing accuracy are also frequent hurdles. Collaboration with hardware engineers and software developers is vital, as is staying informed about new tools and best practices. Developing strong problem-solving skills and engaging with the emulation community can help address these challenges effectively.
More about Emulation jobs
What cities are hiring for Emulation jobs? Cities with the most Emulation job openings:
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Emulation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Emulation job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,152 per year, or $52 per hour.

Senior ASIC Emulation Engineer

K2 Space

Seattle, WA

$170K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers – we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we'd love for you to apply.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior ASIC Emulation Engineer who will lead the bring-up, deployment, and optimization of our pre-silicon emulation platforms. You will work closely with architecture, RTL design, DFT, DV, firmware, physical design, and silicon validation teams to enable high‑fidelity hardware/software co-development and accelerate verification cycles. This is a hands-on role with high ownership, deep technical engagement, and the opportunity to shape first‑generation silicon and system methodology.

Responsibilities

  • Build, integrate, and maintain full-chip, multi-chips and system-level emulation models on platforms such as Palladium, ZeBu, or Veloce.
  • Define and evolve emulation strategy, methodology, and workflows across the ASIC organization.
  • Work with RTL engineers to compile, map, and optimize designs for emulation performance, capacity, and stability.
  • Develop and integrate transactors, BFMs, speed adapters, and virtualization interfaces to support diverse system use cases.
  • Support system‑level testing in emulation by enabling full hardware/software integration, validating complex use cases, and ensuring the environment can run representative end‑to‑end workloads.
  • Accelerate overall verification throughput by helping DV team run targeted and high‑value tests in emulation, including adapting DV content and optimizing flows to reduce simulation bottlenecks.
  • Enable firmware, bootloader, driver, and software teams by providing robust emulation platforms and assisting in HW/SW integration debug.
  • Run emulation workloads, triage failures, perform root-cause analysis, and collaborate across design and verification to resolve issues.
  • Maintain and enhance automation for compile flows, regression management, and continuous integration.
  • Participate in architecture reviews, microarchitecture discussions, and influence design-for-emulation best practices.
  • Support silicon bring-up and post-silicon validation through test reuse, diagnostics, and pre/post-silicon correlation.
  • Manage interactions with external IP providers or emulation partners when needed.

Qualifications

  • B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in ASIC/SoC development, focused on emulation
  • Solid understanding of SystemVerilog, digital logic, RTL flows, DV methodologies, and ASIC development lifecycles.
  • Hands-on expertise with major emulation platforms (Palladium, ZeBu, Veloce), including model build, debug and performance optimization
  • Proficiency with scripting languages (Python, Perl, TCL) for automation and tooling.
  • Experience with hardware/software interfaces, embedded processors, firmware bring-up, and C/C++‑based system-level testing.
  • Familiarity with industry-standard buses and protocols such as APB/AHB/AXI, JTAG, SPI.
  • Experience driving cross-functional debug involving RTL, DV, firmware, physical design, and validation teams.
  • Understanding of pre- and post-silicon debug methodologies and correlation workflows.

Nice to Have

  • Experience with FPGA prototyping platforms (HAPS, Protium, custom FPGA boards).
  • Experience with low-power modes and power-aware emulation.
  • Experience with analog/mixed-signal behavioral models in emulation environments.
  • Experience with SERDES and high-speed data protocols such as PCIe, Ethernet, USB, or multi-gigabit PHYs.

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Base salary range for this role is $170,000 – $250,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don't meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, "U.S. Persons" include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a "U.S. Person."

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022

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