Lead Hardware Design Validation Engineer

NVIDIA Corporation; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 168,000 - 322,000; Full time

Job summary

NVIDIA Corporation in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a Lead Hardware Design Validation Engineer for GPU, datacenter and automotive platforms. You will own end-to-end product validation from architecture through mass production and mentor validation engineers across multiple teams.

Responsibilities include defining test plans, guiding manufacturing test approaches, and collaborating with vendors to drive validation. Occasional travel to manufacturing sites is expected to support NPI builds.

Qualifications

• BS+ in EE/CE or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of related experience with a proven track record as a technical lead for a shipping hardware product.
• Leadership experience guiding validation across product cycles.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end product validation from architecture to mass production.
• Lead and mentor design validation engineers.
• Guide validation teams and partners through the validation cycles.
• Represent design validation in reviews and debug forums.
• Define test plans across the full system (power, IO, sensors, firmware).
• Drive system-level debugging and root cause analysis across silicon to software.

Skills

Leadership

Scripting

Linux

System troubleshooting

Power validation

Education

Bachelor's in EE/CE or equivalent

Tools

JDM tools

Lab equipment

Job description

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than 25 years. It’s a unique legacy of innovation that’s fueled by great technology—and amazing people. Today, we’re tapping into the unlimited potential of AI to define the next era of computing. An era in which our GPU acts as the brains of computers, robots, and self-driving cars that can understand the world. Doing what’s never been done before takes vision, innovation, and the world’s best talent. As an NVIDIAN, you’ll be immersed in a diverse, supportive environment where everyone is inspired to do their best work. Come join the team and see how you can make a lasting impact on the world.

Join NVIDIA's groundbreaking team as a Lead Hardware Design Validation Engineer for our GPU, datacenter and automotive platforms in Santa Clara, CA!

What you will be doing:

• Own end-to-end product validation from architecture/design phase, through bring-up to mass production: set strategies, define test plans, and track progress to ensure the product meets spec and ships successfully.
• Lead and mentor design validation engineers.
• Guide related validation teams (thermal, EMI, reliability, etc.) and partners (such as JDM) through the validation cycles.
• Represent design validation in executive and cross-functional product reviews and debug forums.
• Be the accountable technical owner for validation status, risks, and different milestones/release readiness.
• Define test plans across the full system based on product design, such as power, high-speed IO, low-speed IO, clock/resets, manageability (BMC), sensors, telemetry, firmware, full-system functional/stress validation etc.
• Guide manufacturing test approaches; contribute to production troubleshooting and boosting yield.
• Collaborate with and lead vendors and partners to complete validation activities.
• Drive system-level debugging and root cause analysis on complex issues (including critical field returns) spanning silicon, board, system, signal integrity, firmware, and software.
• Influence product design through design review and validation/debug feedback.
• Build scalable validation automation and lab infrastructure across product lines.

What we need to see:

• BS+ in EE/CE or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of related experience with a proven track record as a technical lead for a shipping hardware product.
• Proven leadership, leading validation through an entire product cycle from bring-up to mass production.
• Strong system troubleshooting skills covering silicon, board, SI, firmware, OS, and applications.
• Hands-on experience with power validation, including PDN, power regulators, sequencing, telemetry, protection etc.
• Expertise in high-speed IO functionality and electrical validation, such as PCIe, SerDes, Ethernet, USB, or display.
• Proficient in low-speed IO functionality and electrical validation, including I2C, SPI, UART, JTAG, SMBus, reference clock, etc.
• System functional and stress test experience: define and complete system-level stress workloads (thermal, power, IO, memory, mixed-mode, corner V/F, Wide Area Test etc.) to expose marginality and uncover corner-case failures.
• Proficiency with lab equipment and scripting, comfortable in Linux environments including driver/firmware debug with strong communication and program management skills; able to lead across multiple teams, sites, and time zones.
• Experience with manufacturing test plans, collaborating with OPs/CM/OEM teams, and driving production debug and yield improvement.
• Willing to go to local manufacturing sites near Santa Clara (typically up to 5%) to support NPI builds and un-gate factory.

Ways to stand out from the crowd:

• Experience leading validation for a GPU, server, automotive platform, or AI accelerator from first silicon to mass production.
• Datacenter platform experience: high-density/rack-scale power, liquid cooling (CDU, manifolds, leak detection), manageability (BMC) etc.
• Proven capability in managing or technically leading a team of validation engineers.
• Able and willing to travel internationally (primarily to Asia mfg sites such as Taiwan, China mainland etc.), up to 8% during NPI peak, to support builds.

As you plan your future, see what we can offer to you and your family www.nvidiabenefits.com/

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 168,000 USD - 258,750 USD for Level 4, and 200,000 USD - 322,000 USD for Level 5. You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until June 12, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy. NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes. NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

NVIDIA pioneered accelerated computing. Today, our AI infrastructure powers global intelligence, transforming every industry. Learn more about NVIDIA.