ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Silicon Validation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Etched

Post-Silicon Validation Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$160K - $260K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Post Silicon Validation Engineer to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for bringing up, validating, and ...

Etched

Post-Silicon Validation Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$160K - $260K/yr

Job Summary We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Post Silicon Validation Engineer to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for bringing up, validating, and ...

Apple

Silicon Validation Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

As a DDR Silicon Validation Engineer, you will be at the forefront of innovation, performing critical lab characterization and validation of advanced analog and mixed-signal embedded circuits. This ...

Apple

GPU Silicon Validation Engineer

Austin, TX

The GPU Silicon Validation Team is responsible for validating the functional operation, electrical behavior, power, and performance of Apple's embedded GPUs. Team members are involved in test ...

Intel Corporation

Silicon Validation Engineer

Folsom, CA · On-site

$179K - $200K/yr

Join Intel as a Silicon Validation Engineer, where you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the functionality, performance, and reliability of Intel's cutting-edge silicon products and technologies.

Apple

PMU Silicon Validation Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

The PMU team is looking for qualified, motivated silicon validation engineers from a variety of skill levels. We are a fast-growing and highly diverse group, and you will work as part of a team doing ...

Apple

Silicon Validation Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

As a DDR Silicon Validation Engineer, you will be at the forefront of innovation, performing critical lab characterization and validation of advanced analog and mixed-signal embedded circuits. This ...

Experis

Silicon Validation Engineer 3

Redmond, WA · On-site

$64/hr

As a Silicon Validation Engineer 3, you will be part of the Silicon Validation Department supporting high-performance computing solutions. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong problem-solving ...

Intel

Silicon Validation Engineer

Folsom, CA

$179K - $200K/yr

Join Intel as a Silicon Validation Engineer, where you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the functionality, performance, and reliability of Intel's cutting-edge silicon products and technologies.

Lyte

Silicon Validation Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$170K - $250K/yr

We are seeking a hands-on Validation Engineer to take our custom silicon devices from first power-on to production readiness. Embedded in a cross-functional team spanning analog design, logic design ...

Apple

Silicon Validation Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

We have an opportunity for a forward-thinking and especially motivated Analog Mixed Signal IP Silicon Validation Engineer! As a member of our dynamic group, you will have the rare and great ...

Apple

Silicon Validation Engineer

Bodega Bay, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

As a DDR Silicon Validation Engineer, you will be at the forefront of innovation, performing critical lab characterization and validation of advanced analog and mixed-signal embedded circuits. This ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsSilicon Validation Jobs

Silicon Validation information

See salary details

$47.5K

$105.4K

$160.5K

How much do silicon validation jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for silicon validation in the United States is $105,415.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,500.00 and $132,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectSilicon ValidationSilicon Design Engineer
Primary FocusTesting and verifying silicon chips post-fabricationDesigning and developing silicon chips from concept to layout
Skills & CertificationsHardware testing, scripting, verification tools, FPGA experienceVLSI design, CAD tools, digital logic, HDL proficiency
Work EnvironmentLab testing, hardware debugging, collaboration with validation teamsDesign labs, CAD software, collaboration with design teams
Industry UsageUsed in semiconductor companies, hardware firms, and validation labsUsed in chip design companies, semiconductor firms, and R&D departments

Silicon Validation focuses on testing and verifying chips after manufacturing, ensuring functionality and performance. Silicon Design Engineers create the chip architecture and layout before fabrication. Both roles require technical skills but differ in their stage of involvement in the chip development process.

What is silicon validation?

Silicon validation is the process of testing and verifying integrated circuits (ICs) or chips after they have been manufactured, to ensure they function as intended in real-world conditions. This involves running a series of tests to check for defects, performance issues, and compliance with design specifications. Silicon validation is a critical step before mass production, as it helps identify and resolve any issues that may have been missed during earlier design and simulation phases. The process typically includes both functional and electrical testing, often using specialized hardware and software tools.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in silicon validation, and how can they be managed effectively?

Professionals in silicon validation often encounter challenges such as debugging complex hardware issues, tight project deadlines, and the need to quickly adapt to evolving specifications. Managing these difficulties typically involves collaborating closely with design, verification, and software teams to isolate and resolve bugs efficiently. Staying organized, maintaining clear documentation, and leveraging automated validation tools can also help streamline workflows and mitigate time pressure. Continuous learning and proactive communication are key to navigating the fast-paced nature of silicon validation projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a silicon validation engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Silicon Validation Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering or computer engineering, with expertise in digital and analog circuit fundamentals. Familiarity with lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers), scripting languages (Python, Perl), and validation tools, as well as knowledge of relevant industry standards, is highly valued. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for diagnosing issues and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These competencies ensure thorough validation of silicon chips, leading to robust, high-quality products and successful project outcomes.
More about Silicon Validation jobs
What cities are hiring for Silicon Validation jobs? Cities with the most Silicon Validation job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Silicon Validation jobs? The most popular types of Silicon Validation jobs are:
What states have the most Silicon Validation jobs? States with the most job openings for Silicon Validation jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Silicon Validation jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Silicon Validation jobs are:
Silicon Validation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Silicon Validation job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Internship, 50% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 38% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $105,415 per year, or $50.7 per hour.

Post-Silicon Validation Engineer

Etched

San Jose, CA • On-site

$160K - $260K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

About Etched

Etched is building hardware for frontier intelligence. We co-design chips, racks, software, and manufacturing to deliver best-in-class throughput and latency across both prefill and decode workloads. Our first products are heavily focused on inference. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Post Silicon Validation Engineer to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for bringing up, validating, and characterizing ASICs from first silicon through the production ramp. This role is crucial in ensuring functional correctness, performance, and reliability of our AI/ML accelerator hardware, enabling successful deployment of our cutting-edge products.

Key Responsibilities

  • Drive early bring-up of first silicon, including boot, initialization, and debug of ASICs.

  • Perform deep-dive debug of silicon issues across RTL, firmware, and system levels.

  • Collaborate closely with design, verification, and board teams to root-cause and resolve functional and electrical issues.

  • Validate and characterize custom IP blocks and accelerator components.

  • Execute functional and performance validation of compute units and specialized processing elements.

  • Conduct IP-level and full-chip stress testing and corner case analysis to ensure robust operation.

  • Develop and extend post-silicon validation infrastructure, automation, and test suites.

  • Implement efficient result capture, analysis, and regression frameworks.

  • Utilize lab instrumentation (oscilloscopes, analyzers, BERTs, pattern generators) for detailed signal and system characterization.

  • Define validation strategies and coverage metrics across design blocks and subsystems.

  • Partner with RTL, DFT, ATE, firmware, and system architecture teams to ensure smooth transition from pre-silicon verification to post-silicon validation.

  • Provide critical feedback on test escapes, yield issues, and silicon errata, influencing silicon revisions and firmware/driver workarounds.

You may be a good fit if you have

  • 7+ years of experience in post-silicon validation, bring-up, and debug of ASICs (preferably including AI/ML accelerators)

  • Proven expertise in early silicon bring-up, debug, and validation

  • Deep knowledge of peripheral interfaces and board-level debug

  • Proficiency in C, Python, and scripting for validation automation

  • Hands-on expertise with oscilloscopes, logic/protocol analyzers, and other validation lab tools

  • Familiarity with firmware, bootloaders, and low-level silicon debug environments

  • Strong problem-solving, analytical, and collaboration skills across hardware and software teams

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field (Master's preferred)

Strong candidates may also have experience with

  • Low-speed peripheral interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, JTAG)

  • High-speed protocols (PCIe, Ethernet)

  • Memory subsystems (HBM, DDR)

  • Performance and thermal characterization

  • AI/ML model profiling and workload correlation

  • System-level validation of accelerators or server platforms

Benefits

  • Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage

    • $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits

  • Housing subsidy of $2k per month for those living within walking distance of the office

  • Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row)

  • Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more

  • Daily lunch + dinner in our office

  • Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification

How we’re different

Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We are the first inference-focused frontier AI system. Our addressable market is the entirety of inference, unlike many of our competitors.

 

We are a fully in-person team in San Jose (Santana Row), and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both and work across disciplines as needed.

Compensation Range: $160K - $260K