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Pre Silicon Validation Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... pre-silicon design and post-silicon validation is the key to shipping quality products. In this ... Python, TestStand) Mentoring and training for junior validation engineers. Effective communication ...

... from pre-silicon verification to post-silicon validation. * Provide critical feedback on test ... Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field (Master ...

Validation Engineer Location : Austin, Texas - Onsite JD: * Good Experience in Board Bring up and ... Hardware boards bring up, Pre-silicon validation, Hardware bring up and debugging * Hands on ...

... from pre-silicon verification to post-silicon validation. * Provide critical feedback on test ... Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field (Master ...

Hardware validation engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$122K - $161K/yr

Need a Validation engineer to support the customer Validation boards Pre and post silicon bring up, Testing the voltage regulator circuits, low speed interfaces like I2C, SPI, UART etc... Board Bring ...

New

... pre-silicon design and post-silicon validation is the key to shipping quality products. In this ... Python, TestStand) Mentoring and training for junior validation engineers. Effective communication ...

Silicon Validation Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site +1

$175K - $450K/yr

Experience with both pre-silicon and post-silicon validation. * Experience with Cadence Palladium. * Experience with SystemVerilog, UVM, assertions, coverage, or waveform debug. * Experience bringing ...

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How much do pre silicon validation engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for pre silicon validation engineer 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 a pre silicon validation engineer?

A Pre-Silicon Validation Engineer is responsible for verifying and testing semiconductor designs before they are manufactured. They work with simulation tools, emulation platforms, and testbenches to ensure that the hardware design meets functional and performance requirements. Their role involves writing validation plans, creating test scenarios, running simulations, and debugging design issues. This helps identify and fix design flaws early in the development process, reducing costly errors in later stages of production. They collaborate closely with design, verification, and software teams to ensure a smooth transition to silicon fabrication.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the pre silicon validation engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Pre Silicon Validation Engineer, you need strong expertise in digital design, computer architecture, and verification methodologies, typically backed by a degree in electrical or computer engineering. Experience with hardware description languages (HDLs) like Verilog or VHDL, familiarity with simulation/emulation tools, and sometimes knowledge of scripting languages such as Python or Perl are highly valued. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills are crucial for pinpointing design issues and working closely with cross-functional teams. These abilities are vital to ensure early detection and resolution of design flaws, leading to more robust and efficient chip development cycles.

What are common day-to-day responsibilities for a pre silicon validation engineer?

As a Pre Silicon Validation Engineer, your typical day involves developing and executing test plans to verify digital design functionalities before manufacturing. You’ll collaborate with design, verification, and firmware teams to identify and debug issues using simulation and emulation platforms. Daily tasks often include writing and running testbenches, analyzing results, and documenting any bugs or inconsistencies found in the design. This role requires a proactive approach in communication and frequent problem-solving to ensure the product meets all specifications prior to fabrication.

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What states have the most Pre Silicon Validation Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Pre Silicon Validation Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Pre Silicon Validation Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, and 24% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $108,152 per year, or $52 per hour.

Silicon Validation Engineer, Infra Silicon

Meta

Sunnyvale, CA

$178K/yr

Full-time

Posted 22 days ago


Meta rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 45 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

136th of 244 rated software companies


Job description

Meta's Infrastructure Silicon organization is seeking a Silicon Validation Engineer to lead silicon validation efforts for custom-designed accelerators and infrastructure ASICs powering Meta's data center fleet. In this role, you will drive end-to-end validation strategy across the full silicon lifecycle — from pre-silicon planning and emulation-based verification through post-silicon bring-up, characterization, and fleet-scale deployment. You will serve as a technical authority bridging silicon design, systems architecture, and production infrastructure, ensuring that Meta's custom silicon meets rigorous performance, reliability, and functional requirements at scale.
Silicon Validation Engineer, Infra Silicon Responsibilities:
  • Define and own comprehensive validation strategies for custom infrastructure ASICs, spanning functional correctness, performance characterization, reliability stress testing, and power analysis across pre- and post-silicon phases
  • Lead pre-silicon validation planning using simulation and emulation environments, authoring test plans that map to architectural specifications and cover corner cases across compute, memory, and I/O subsystems
  • Drive post-silicon bring-up activities including board-level debug, firmware integration, and systematic root-cause analysis of silicon failures using lab instrumentation and diagnostic tooling
  • Develop and maintain automated validation frameworks, silicon diagnostics, and performance analysis tools that scale from early lab environments to large-scale data center deployments
  • Collaborate with ASIC design, architecture, and physical design teams to provide validation feedback that influences design-for-testability decisions and next-generation silicon architecture
  • Establish and track silicon quality metrics, characterization data, and yield analysis to inform productization decisions and deployment readiness gates
  • Partner with systems and firmware engineering teams to validate host-side integration, PCIe and fabric interconnects, thermal management, and power delivery across full-stack server configurations
  • Identify systemic silicon failure modes observed in the production fleet and drive corrective actions through design errata documentation, firmware workarounds, or architectural improvements
  • Mentor other engineers on validation methodology, debug techniques, and best practices for infrastructure silicon bring-up and characterization
  • Contribute to long-term validation infrastructure roadmaps, defining tooling investments and methodology improvements that improve coverage and reduce time-to-production for future silicon generations

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience
  • 8+ years of experience in silicon validation, hardware systems engineering, or post-silicon bring-up for custom ASICs, SoCs, or accelerator designs
  • 8+ years of experience with pre-silicon validation environments including RTL simulation, emulation platforms, or FPGA prototyping
  • Experience with post-silicon debug methodologies including use of logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, JTAG, and protocol analyzers for PCIe, DDR, or high-speed serial interfaces
  • Experience developing validation automation frameworks and diagnostic tooling using Python, C, or C++
  • Experience collaborating across ASIC design, architecture, firmware, and systems teams throughout the silicon development lifecycle

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with data center infrastructure silicon including AI/ML accelerators, network ASICs, or storage controllers in large-scale fleet environments
  • Experience defining design-for-testability requirements and contributing to silicon architecture reviews from a validation perspective
  • Familiarity with server systems architecture including PCIe topology, memory subsystems, and BMC-based platform management
  • Experience with power and thermal characterization, reliability stress testing, and silicon yield analysis for productization

About Meta:
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. People who choose to build their careers by building with us at Meta help shape a future that will take us beyond what digital connection makes possible today—beyond the constraints of screens, the limits of distance, and even the rules of physics.
Meta is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Meta participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law. Please note that Meta may leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies in connection with applications for employment.
Meta is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at accommodations-ext@meta.com.
$178,000/year to $250,000/year + bonus + equity + benefits
Individual compensation is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Compensation details listed in this posting reflect the base hourly rate, monthly rate, or annual salary only, and do not include bonus, equity or sales incentives, if applicable. In addition to base compensation, Meta offers benefits. Learn more about benefits at Meta.

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