CPU Silicon Validation Engineer

Apple Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Apple Inc. in Austin, TX is seeking a CPU validation engineer to help ensure the functional correctness of our CPUs.

You will develop CPU test content, define new test cases for cutting‑edge designs, and lead silicon bring‑up efforts across pre‑silicon FPGAs and post‑silicon development boards. The role requires a BS with 3+ years in CPU architecture, strong C/C++ and scripting skills, and a passion for debugging complex silicon issues.

Qualifications

• BS in EE/CS/CE with 3+ years in hardware validation.
• Experience with CPU architecture and validation.
• Proficient in C/C++ and Python or Perl for tooling and automation.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with CPU RTL and DV teams to understand changes and create test content.
• Develop CPU validation test plans ensuring coverage of key features.
• Create and integrate SW workloads to stress test the CPU in validation environments.
• Maintain and enhance the random test generator for new CPU features.
• Drive silicon bring-up and validation tool execution in pre-/post-silicon stages (FPGAs and dev boards).
• Debug functional silicon failures with Design and DV teams.

Skills

CPU architecture

C/C++ programming

Python/Perl scripting

Education

BS in Electrical Engineering / Computer Science / Computer Engineering

Job description

Overview

In this role, you will be at the center of a chip design effort that collaborates with many disciplines and has a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers. You will be part of a team responsible for the functional validation of our CPUs, aiming to identify logic design and circuit bugs. You will develop CPU test content using our test generators, define new test cases for cutting‑edge CPU designs, and spearhead our silicon bring‑up efforts.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with CPU RTL and DV teams to understand changes to our CPU designs and engineer test content for new CPU features.
• Create CPU validation test plans, ensuring all key features are covered.
• Develop SW workloads to stress test the CPU and integrate these into existing validation environments.
• Help maintain and improve our random test generator by adding support for new CPU architectural and microarchitectural features.
• Drive the bring‑up and execution of our silicon validation tools in pre‑silicon (FPGAs) and post‑silicon (development boards).
• Debug functional silicon failures closely with Design and DV counterparts.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS and 3+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience with CPU architecture.
• Experience programming in C or C++ and scripting in Python or Perl.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering.
• Understanding of CPU architecture, including instruction sets, pipelines, caches, and memory subsystems.
• Experience with assembly programming (ARM ISA is a plus).
• Knowledge of operating system fundamentals including kernel execution, privilege levels, memory management, and virtual machines.
• Good understanding of the logic design and verification process.
• Background in silicon bring‑up and system debug experience.
• Strong problem‑solving skills.

Apple is an equal‑opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.