Lead SoC Design Verification Engineer

Inspire Semiconductor; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

InspireSemi seeks a seasoned Lead SoC Verification Engineer to own verification of our high‑performance cluster‑on‑a‑chip. You will lead the verification strategy for RISC‑V cores, NICs, and peripheral IP, selecting efficient tools and techniques to ensure robust designs.

You will build and mentor a new in‑house verification team, shaping the future of our groundbreaking HPC architecture and verification framework, with a focus on performance and quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in SoC verification.
• Strong understanding of SystemVerilog, UVM, and simulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Craft and execute comprehensive verification plans from the ground up.
• Develop unit-level and system-level testbenches.
• Implement and ensure RISC-V ISA compliance testing.
• Debug issues with design team.
• Analyze and improve functional and code coverage.
• Integrate simulations with user interfaces, stimulus generators, and checkers.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and optimize via verification.
• Innovate and improve test infrastructure and automation frameworks.
• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of verification engineers.

Skills

SoC verification

SystemVerilog

UVM

Scripting

Python

C/C++

TCL

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical or Computer Engineering

Tools

Xcelium

DPI/VPI

Git/Bitbucket

Jira/Confluence

Job description

About Us:

At InspireSemi, we're not just building chips; we're revolutionizing high-performance computing. Our groundbreaking architecture packs thousands of 64-bit CPU cores onto a single chip, all seamlessly connected. We're driven by a mission to make high performance computing more accessible, energy-efficient, and easier for developers to harness. Ready to make a real impact? Join our passionate team!

Why Join InspireSemi?

• Be a Pioneer: Get in on the ground floor of a hypergrowth startup! You'll be part of a small, dynamic team shaping the future of computing.
• Make an Impact: Your work will directly contribute to disruptive technology.
• Grow With Us: Seize significant growth and development opportunities, including the chance to build a team.
• Rewarding Compensation: We offer a competitive salary, bonus potential, and meaningful equity.
• Flexibility: Benefit from a hybrid work model (with potential for fully remote for exceptional candidates) and flexible time off.

The Opportunity:

We are looking for a seasoned Lead SoC Verification Engineer to own the complete verification of our innovative Supercomputer cluster-on-a-chip. This critical role encompasses our RISC-V cores, complex network-on-chip, and 3rd-party peripheral IP integrations. You will have significant discretion to choose the most efficient methods and tools to ensure our designs are robust and performant. This is a leadership position where you'll have the opportunity to build out our in-house verification dream team.

What You’ll Do:

• Craft and execute comprehensive verification plans from the ground up.
• Develop sophisticated unit-level and system-level testbenches.
• Implement and ensure RISC-V ISA compliance testing.
• Conduct preliminary debugging of discovered issues, working closely with the design team.
• Analyze and drive enhancements for functional and code coverage.
• Integrate simulations with real user interfaces, stimulus generators, and checkers.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and opportunities for optimization through verification.
• Continuously innovate and improve our test infrastructure and automation frameworks.
• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of verification engineers.

What You Bring:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in SoC verification.
• A deep understanding of SystemVerilog, UVM, and simulation tools (Xcelium preferred).
• Proven experience interfacing simulations to other software and hardware via DPI/VPI.
• Proficiency with version control (git/Bitbucket) and project tracking (Jira, Confluence).
• Strong knowledge of common bus protocols (AXI, AHB, PCIe, DDR4/5, etc.).
• Solid familiarity with CPU architecture and digital design concepts.
• Excellent scripting and programming skills (Python, C/C++, TCL).
• Outstanding communication and collaboration abilities.

Bonus Points:

• Experience with formal verification techniques (e.g., Conformal LEC).
• Hands-on experience with emulation systems (like Zebu or Palladium) or FPGA prototyping.

If you're excited about pushing the boundaries of computing and working on truly innovative technology in a rewarding environment, we'd love to hear from you!