CPU Core Design Verification Testbench Lead

Tenstorrent; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Tenstorrent is seeking a skilled professional for CPU core-level testbench development focused on RISC-V architecture. You will be responsible for leading verification initiatives, enhancing CVM methodologies, and developing unique testbench components.

This hybrid role requires collaboration across engineering teams and offers opportunities to work with advanced AI technologies. Candidates should have extensive experience in CPU verification, familiarity with UVM, and the ability to work in complex verification settings.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in CPU verification or closely related digital design.
• Deep hands-on experience building CPU core-level testbenches.
• Comfortable across RTL, waveforms, logs, regressions, and debugging.

Responsibilities

• Lead CPU core-level testbench development for RISC-V cores.
• Drive functional verification for CPU core features.
• Develop UVM, assembly, C/C++ stimulus for RISC-V extensions.

Skills

CPU verification

Testbench development

CVM methodology

UVM experience

Python orchestration

Tools

C/C++

AI-assisted verification workflows

Job description

Tenstorrent is leading the industry on cutting-edge AI technology, revolutionizing performance expectations, ease of use, and cost efficiency. With AI redefining the computing paradigm, solutions must evolve to unify innovations in software models, compilers, platforms, networking, and semiconductors. Our diverse team of technologists have developed a high performance RISC-V CPU from scratch, and share a passion for AI and a deep desire to build the best AI platform possible. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to solving hard problems. We are growing our team and looking for contributors of all seniorities.

At Tenstorrent, we build open, state of the art compute for real workloads and real developers.

You will own CPU core-level testbench development and verification, shaping how our out-of-order RISC-V CPUs behave in silicon.

This role is hybrid, based out of Austin, TX or Santa Clara, CA.

We welcome candidates at various experience levels for this role. During the interview process, candidates will be assessed for the appropriate level, and offers will align with that level, which may differ from the one in this posting.

Who You Are

• You bring 8+ years in CPU verification, CPU testbench development, or closely related digital design.
• You have deep hands-on experience building and owning CPU core-level testbenches, not just using existing environments.
• You know high-performance out-of-order CPU microarchitecture in depth.
• You are comfortable developing testbench infrastructure in CVM methodology, with UVM experience as a strong plus.
• You work comfortably across RTL, waveforms, logs, regressions, and cross-functional debug with design, DV, emulation, and post-silicon teams.
• You are comfortable using AI-assisted verification workflows to improve debug, stimulus creation, and coverage analysis, while applying strong engineering judgment to validate results.

What We Need

• Lead hands-on CPU core-level testbench development for high-performance out-of-order RISC-V cores.
• Own and evolve CVM-based verification methodology, infrastructure, and reusable testbench components.
• Plan and drive functional verification for CPU core features, ISA behavior, and microarchitectural scenarios.
• Develop UVM, assembly, C/C++ stimulus, and C++ functional models for RISC-V extensions and un-core components such as APIC and IOMMU.
• Debug regressions, close coverage, and improve core, cluster, and chip-level testbenches across simulation, emulation, and post-silicon environments.
• Develop testbench and tooling infrastructure that combines Python orchestration with specialized AI agents to accelerate triage and root-cause analysis across logs, waveforms, and verification databases.

What You Will Learn

• How Tenstorrent designs and validates high-performance RISC-V CPU cores and clusters.
• Techniques for building scalable CPU testbench infrastructure across core, cluster, and chip-level environments.
• Ways to apply CVM methodology to complex CPU verification and debug workflows.
• Techniques for spanning pre-silicon, emulation, and post-silicon verification with shared stimulus.
• How to scale coverage, debug, and infrastructure across multiple CPU programs within Tenstorrent’s broader compute roadmap.
• How Tenstorrent applies AI across the DV lifecycle — from test planning and stimulus through regression debug, triage, and coverage analysis — using workflows designed to keep context tight and outputs auditable.

This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant being eligible to access U.S. export-controlled technology. Due to U.S. export laws, including those codified in the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Company is required to ensure compliance with these laws when transferring technology to nationals of certain countries (such as EAR Country Groups D:1, E1, and E2). These requirements apply to persons located in the U.S. and all countries outside the U.S. As the position offered will have direct and/or indirect access to information, systems, or technologies subject to these laws, the offer may be contingent upon your citizenship/permanent residency status or ability to obtain prior license approval from the U.S. Commerce Department or applicable federal agency. If employment is not possible due to U.S. export laws, any offer of employment will be rescinded.