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Principal Verification Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Marvell

Principal Verification Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$159K/yr

Strong verification skills, understanding of methodology (object oriented programming, white-box/black-box, directed/random testing, coverage, gate-level simulations, data structure). Must have ...

Zoomcar

Principal Verification Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$179 - $219/hr

Conduct thorough code reviews of verification code, provide constructive feedback, and champion engineering best practices across the team. * Mentor and guide junior and mid-level engineers through ...

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How much do principal verification engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal verification engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal verification engineer?

A Principal Verification Engineer is a senior-level professional responsible for leading the verification process of complex hardware or software systems, ensuring that designs meet all specifications and functional requirements. They develop and implement verification strategies, create test plans, and oversee the execution of simulation and validation activities. Principal Verification Engineers often mentor junior engineers, collaborate with design and architecture teams, and play a key role in identifying and resolving critical design issues. Their work is essential for delivering high-quality, reliable products in industries such as semiconductor, electronics, and automotive. This role typically requires extensive experience in verification methodologies and strong problem-solving skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal verification engineer?

A Principal Verification Engineer needs deep expertise in digital design, verification methodologies (such as UVM or SystemVerilog), and a degree in electrical or computer engineering. Mastery of simulation tools (like ModelSim or VCS), scripting languages (Perl, Python), and familiarity with hardware description languages are typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help in leading teams and collaborating across engineering functions. These competencies ensure rigorous product validation, efficient project execution, and high-quality semiconductor or hardware releases.

What are some common challenges faced by a principal verification engineer, and how can they be addressed?

Principal Verification Engineers often navigate complex verification environments, tight project timelines, and coordination across multiple teams. A key challenge is ensuring comprehensive test coverage while managing evolving design specifications. Effective communication with design and firmware teams, proactive identification of verification gaps, and leveraging advanced verification methodologies (such as constrained-random testing and formal verification) can help address these challenges. Additionally, mentoring junior engineers and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing are vital for team success.

What is the difference between Principal Verification Engineer vs Verification Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Verification EngineerVerification Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields; extensive experience in verification methodologiesUsually holds a Bachelor's or Master's in a relevant engineering discipline; less extensive experience needed
Work EnvironmentLeads verification teams, designs verification strategies, and oversees complex projectsPerforms verification tasks, runs tests, and documents results under supervision
Industry UsageCommonly found in semiconductor, electronics, and hardware industriesWidely used across similar industries for testing and validation roles

The Principal Verification Engineer typically has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and oversees verification processes, while Verification Engineers focus on executing tests and validating designs. Both roles are essential in ensuring product quality but differ in scope and seniority.

More about Principal Verification Engineer jobs

What states have the most Principal Verification Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Principal Verification Engineer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Principal Verification Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Principal Verification Engineer jobs are:

Principal Verification Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Verification Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Verification Lead / Principal Verification Engineer PCIe Gen5/Gen6

San Jose, CA • On-site

Comprehensive Resources Inc.
IT Services • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Comprehensive Resources Inc.external

$159K/yr

Other

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Verification Lead / Principal Verification Engineer - PCIe Gen5/Gen6

Location: San Jose, CA
Experience: 10+ Years
Job Type: Contract / Long-Term

Job Summary

We are seeking a Verification Lead / Principal Verification Engineer with strong hands-on experience in PCIe Gen5/Gen6 verification to lead end-to-end verification of PCIe Controller and Subsystem IP.

The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in PCIe protocol, UVM, SystemVerilog, LTSSM, PIPE, PHY/SerDes, assertions, coverage closure, emulation, and protocol compliance.

Responsibilities
  • Own PCIe Gen5/Gen6 verification strategy, planning, execution, and signoff.
  • Review PCIe architecture, microarchitecture, specifications, and RTL.
  • Develop and architect reusable UVM-based verification environments.
  • Verify PCIe Transaction Layer, Data Link Layer, Physical Layer, and PIPE interfaces.
  • Develop test plans, testcases, scoreboards, assertions, and coverage models.
  • Verify LTSSM, link training, equalization, recovery, speed changes, and lane-width changes.
  • Verify Controller-to-PHY integration and PCIe protocol compliance.
  • Drive functional, code, assertion, and cross-coverage closure.
  • Support IP, subsystem, and SoC-level verification.
  • Support emulation, post-silicon debug, and silicon validation.
  • Lead and mentor verification engineers.
  • Collaborate with Architecture, RTL Design, DFT, Firmware, Physical Design, PHY, and Validation teams.

Required Skills
  • 10+ years of ASIC/SoC Design Verification experience.
  • Strong hands-on PCIe Gen5/Gen6 verification experience.
  • Deep understanding of PCIe Transaction, Data Link, and Physical Layers.
  • Strong knowledge of LTSSM, PIPE, link training, equalization, and recovery.
  • Expert-level SystemVerilog and UVM.
  • Strong SVA/assertion-based verification experience.
  • Functional, code, assertion, and cross-coverage experience.
  • PCIe Controller-to-PHY/SerDes integration experience.
  • SR-IOV and advanced PCIe features preferred.
  • Emulation experience with Veloce, Palladium, or ZeBu preferred.
  • Strong technical leadership and communication skills.

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or related field.

To Apply: Please send your updated resume to .

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