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Post Silicon Validation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Post-Silicon Validation Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$120K - $158K/yr

We are seeking Lead Post-Silicon Validation Engineer within the GPU Engineering Team to help drive development of future GPUs be used in 3D graphics, deep learning, HPC and automotive markets. Make ...

We are a fast-growing and highly diverse group, and you will work as part of a team doing post-silicon bring- up, debug, and validation of analog and power ICs that will drive the next generation of ...

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Post Silicon Validation information

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How much do post silicon validation jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for post silicon validation in the United States is $50.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.66 and $61.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Post Silicon Validation vs Silicon Validation Engineer?

AspectPost Silicon ValidationSilicon Validation Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fieldsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields
Work EnvironmentPost-production testing, debugging, and validation on actual silicon chipsPre-silicon testing, simulation, and verification of chip designs
Industry UsagePrimarily after chip fabrication, focusing on real hardwareDuring design phase, before fabrication, focusing on verification
Common Search/ComparisonPost Silicon Validation vs Silicon Validation Engineer

Post Silicon Validation involves testing and validating chips after fabrication to ensure they meet specifications, while Silicon Validation Engineers focus on verifying chip designs before manufacturing. Both roles require similar technical backgrounds but differ in timing, environment, and specific tasks within the chip development lifecycle.

What is Post Silicon Validation?

Post Silicon Validation is the process of testing and verifying a semiconductor chip’s functionality, performance, and reliability after it has been manufactured. This stage is critical because it helps ensure that the hardware operates as intended in real-world conditions, identifying any issues that may not have been detected during pre-silicon simulation or emulation. Engineers use specialized test setups to validate features, diagnose bugs, and work closely with design teams to resolve any defects. Successful post silicon validation helps ensure product quality and reduces the risk of costly recalls or failures after the chip is released to customers.

What does a post-silicon validation engineer do?

A post-silicon validation engineer tests and verifies the functionality and performance of hardware chips after manufacturing. They develop test plans, use debugging tools, and analyze data to identify and resolve issues, ensuring the chip meets design specifications before release.

Are validation engineers in demand?

Validation engineers are in high demand due to the increasing complexity of semiconductor and electronic systems. They are essential for ensuring product quality and reliability, often requiring skills in scripting, testing tools, and industry standards, which contribute to strong job growth in the field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Post Silicon Validation Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Post Silicon Validation Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, digital design, and experience with silicon debugging, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with hardware description languages (HDL), lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers), and tools like JTAG, as well as scripting languages such as Python or Perl, is typically required. Attention to detail, strong analytical thinking, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for diagnosing complex issues and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills and qualifications are essential to ensuring that silicon chips meet design specifications and function reliably before mass production.

What is the salary of validation engineer in post silicon?

The salary of a post-silicon validation engineer typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in hardware debugging and verification tools may earn higher compensation. Salaries can also vary based on industry demand and certifications held.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as silicon validation, hardware engineering, or executive-level roles in technology companies can earn $500,000 or more annually. These positions often require extensive experience, advanced skills, and sometimes leadership responsibilities or stock options.

What are some common challenges faced in Post Silicon Validation, and how can candidates prepare to address them?

Post Silicon Validation engineers often encounter challenges such as debugging complex hardware-software interactions, reproducing intermittent failures, and working with limited documentation or pre-silicon models. To address these, candidates should develop strong problem-solving skills, gain hands-on experience with lab equipment, and become proficient in scripting and automation tools. Collaborating closely with design, firmware, and test teams is also essential to efficiently pinpoint issues and implement solutions, making strong communication skills highly valuable.
More about Post Silicon Validation jobs
What cities are hiring for Post Silicon Validation jobs? Cities with the most Post Silicon Validation job openings:
What states have the most Post Silicon Validation jobs? States with the most job openings for Post Silicon Validation jobs include:
Infographic showing various Post Silicon Validation job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,945 per year, or $50.5 per hour.
Post Silicon Validation Engineer II

Post Silicon Validation Engineer II

Cadence Design Systems Inc.

Cary, IL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology.

Job Title:

Post Silicon Validation Engineer II

About Us

Cadence is a pivotal leader in electronic design, building upon more than 30 years of computational software expertise. We apply our Intelligent System Design strategy to deliver software, hardware, and IP that turn design concepts into reality. This strategy is supplemented by AI-augmented development practices throughout all our organizations to empower our team to focus on creative problem-solving and innovation. Our customers are the world's most innovative companies, delivering extraordinary electronic products-from chips to boards to systems-for dynamic market applications including consumer, hyperscale computing, 5G communications, automotive, aerospace, industrial, and health. Join us and be part of a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and customer success.

Position Overview

We invite you to join a growing and innovative IP team dedicated to building best-in-class digital and mixed-signal IP solutions. You will work alongside seasoned professionals developing high-performance IP across protocols such as PCIe, Ethernet. In this role, you will be integral to the organization's efforts to support post-silicon bring-up and characterization.

Responsibilities:

- Evaluation of Cadence' cutting-edge designs in silicon in a lab environment

- Development of test methodologies and improvements to current test practices for validating silicon designs against various industry standards and internal specifications

- Devise script infrastructure and write scripts for configuring the device, test automation, and data analysis

- Collaborate with several groups such as analog designers, digital designers, system designers in devising experiments, drive data collection, and present results analysis

- Test Report generation for internal and customer consumption

- Support customer demonstration of Cadence' products and Application Engineers in supporting customers issues and debugs

- AI Incorporation: Leverage AI-powered tools and assistants to enhance productivity, improve decision making, and maintain high-quality customer deliverables. Apply AI-powered analytics tools to extract insights, identify patterns, and generate actionable recommendations from complex datasets.

Requirements/Qualifications:

- B.S. or M.S. degree in Electrical, Computer Engineering, Engineering Science, or related engineering subject area

- 1+ years of validation experience and in high-speed analog/mixed signal designs

- Experience with high-speed test equipment such as Bit-Error Rate Tests (BERT), Oscilloscopes, Spectrum Analyzers, and Network Analyzers.

- Solid software programming/scripting experience in languages such as Python or similar object-oriented languages.

- Candidate must be a self-starter, takes initiative, strong communication, great teammate

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