Silicon Validation Software Engineer (Sr Staff)

Synopsys, Inc.; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Synopsys, Inc. is seeking an experienced software engineer in Mississauga to design and maintain Python-based automation for silicon validation and system-level debugging. You will work with lab equipment, parse large data sets, and build scalable validation pipelines.

You will collaborate with analog designers, firmware and systems teams to pin down root causes, while mentoring junior engineers and pushing for robust tooling across IP product lines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field and 8+ years in software development within silicon validation or hardware test environments
• Strong Python proficiency for test automation, data analysis, and instrumentation control
• Experience building hardware automation frameworks and tooling deployed in production validation environments
• Experience with Git or GitLab, repository management, branching, and code review workflows

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain Python-based automation frameworks and tools for silicon validation, characterization, and system-level debug workflows
• Build automated test flows and data processing pipelines from raw lab measurements to actionable reports
• Work with lab instrumentation to enable instrument control and data acquisition using protocols like JTAG, I2C, SPI, UART
• Debug cross-domain issues spanning hardware and software during silicon bring-up and collaborate with teammates to isolate root causes
• Enhance and scale validation tools to improve efficiency, reliability, and coverage across multiple IP product lines
• Mentor junior engineers on software development best practices and cross-domain problem-solving

Skills

Python

Automation frameworks

Validation

Lab instrumentation

Debugging

Git/GitLab

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

Linux

CI/CD

Job description

We Are

Synopsys is the leader in engineering solutions from silicon to systems, enabling customers to rapidly innovate AI-powered products. We deliver industry-leading silicon design, IP, simulation and analysis solutions, and design services. We partner closely with our customers across a wide range of industries to maximize their R&D capability and productivity, powering innovation today that ignites the ingenuity of tomorrow.

You Are

You have spent years living at the boundary between silicon and software, and you have learned that the best validation tools are not the ones with the most features but the ones that actually get used in the lab at 2 a.m. when a bring-up is stuck. You think in workflows, not scripts. You know the difference between automation that saves time and automation that creates new bottlenecks, and you care deeply about that difference.

You are comfortable sitting with an analog designer reviewing scope traces one hour and writing Python to parse gigabytes of characterization data the next. You do not wait for perfect specs. You work with what you have, ask the right questions, and build something that moves the team forward. When a test fails, you dig into whether it is the silicon, the setup, the instrument, or the code, and you do not stop until you know.

You have a point of view. You push back when a test plan is too manual or a debug flow is too fragile. At the same time, you mentor the engineers around you, not because it is in your job description but because you know the team gets better when knowledge moves freely. At Synopsys, you will work on validation infrastructure that directly impacts the quality and time-to-market of high-speed mixed-signal IP that powers the semiconductor industry.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design, develop, and maintain Python-based automation frameworks and software tools that drive silicon validation, characterization, and system-level debug workflows
• Build automated test flows and data processing pipelines that turn raw lab measurements into actionable insights and reports
• Work directly with lab instrumentation to enable instrument control, data acquisition, and validation workflows using protocols like JTAG, I2C, SPI, and UART
• Debug complex issues that span the hardware-software interface during silicon bring-up, collaborating with analog designers, systems engineers, and firmware teams to isolate root causes
• Enhance and scale existing validation tools and frameworks to improve efficiency, reliability, and coverage across multiple IP product lines
• Manage code repositories, branching strategies, and version control workflows using Git or GitLab to ensure robust, maintainable software infrastructure
• Mentor junior engineers on software development best practices, validation methodologies, and cross-domain problem-solving techniques

The Impact You Will Have

• Accelerate silicon bring-up and validation cycles by building automation that eliminates manual bottlenecks and increases test coverage
• Improve the quality and reliability of Synopsys mixed-signal IP solutions by enabling faster, more comprehensive characterization and debug
• Reduce time-to-market for high-speed IP products by delivering scalable validation infrastructure that supports multiple concurrent projects
• Strengthen cross-functional collaboration by creating tools and workflows that bridge the gap between hardware design, firmware, and software teams
• Enable better decision-making across validation activities by improving data visibility, analysis capabilities, and reporting accuracy
• Build a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement by mentoring engineers and sharing knowledge across the team
• Contribute to the long-term success of the Mississauga R&D team by establishing best practices in validation software development and tooling

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 8+ years of experience in software development within silicon validation or hardware test environments, or Master's degree with 6+ years of experience
• Strong proficiency in Python for test automation, data analysis, and instrumentation control
• Proven experience developing hardware automation frameworks, validation tools, or scripting solutions that have been deployed in production validation environments
• Solid understanding of version control systems such as Git or GitLab, including repository management, branching strategies, and code review workflows
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills that span both software and hardware domains, with the ability to isolate issues across the stack
• Experience with low-level hardware communication protocols such as JTAG, I2C, SPI, UART, or similar for IC bring-up, debugging, and validation is highly desirable
• Hands-on experience working in laboratory environments with test equipment and instrumentation is a strong plus

Who You Are

• You can walk into a lab, look at a failing test, and within an hour determine whether the issue is in the silicon, the test setup, the instrument configuration, or the software, and you know which question to ask first
• You take ownership of problems that do not have clear owners, especially the ones that sit between teams, and you drive them to resolution without waiting for someone else to pick them up
• You are the engineer who writes code that other people can actually read and modify six months later, and you care about documentation not as an afterthought but as part of the design
• You can explain a complex silicon debug finding to a design team in a way that gets them the information they need without burying them in data
• You thrive in environments where priorities shift, where you might be optimizing a data pipeline one day and debugging a bring-up issue in the lab the next, and you do not lose focus when the plan changes
• You actively mentor junior engineers, not by lecturing but by pairing on real problems, reviewing their code thoughtfully, and helping them build the instincts that take years to develop

The Team You'll Be Part Of

You will join a high-performing R&D team based in Mississauga, renowned for its expertise in high-speed, mixed-signal IP development and validation. The team is dedicated to technical excellence, continuous learning, and collaborative problem-solving. You will work closely with analog and systems designers, applications engineers, and customers, playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of advanced silicon solutions. The culture emphasizes mentorship, knowledge sharing, and professional growth, ensuring that every team member has the support and resources needed to thrive.

Rewards and Benefits

We offer a comprehensive range of health, wellness, and financial benefits to cater to your needs. Our total rewards include both monetary and non-monetary offerings. Your recruiter will provide more details about the salary range and benefits during the hiring process.