Power Delivery and Voltage Regulator Validation Engineer – Datacenter

Qualcomm; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,500 - 270,700; Full time

Job summary

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. is seeking a Staff or Sr. Staff Power Delivery and VR Validation Engineer to own VR/PDN validation for server‑class platforms based on Snapdragon SoC. The role is hands‑on with high ownership, from first power‑on through production readiness.

Responsibilities include rail sequencing, validation strategy, debug, automation tool development, and collaboration with PI simulation teams. Strong lab skills and multi‑phase VR experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in board or platform hardware validation; Sr. Staff may own multi‑platform validation strategy.
• Hands‑on power delivery and power integrity validation on servers/high‑perf platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead power delivery bring‑up from first power‑on and verify rail sequencing.
• Define end‑to‑end VR and PDN validation strategy and test plans.
• Validate VRs, rails, sequencing, margining, control loops, and PDN impedance.
• Debug power delivery issues and drive root‑cause analysis and fixes.
• Develop/test automation tools (Python, Shell, TCL) for VR testing.
• Support DVT/PVT, factory bring‑up, and field issues.
• Provide model‑to‑hardware correlation data to PI simulations.

Skills

Power delivery

PDN validation

Lab measurements

Python scripting

Root-cause analysis

Documentation

Communication

Automation tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Master's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering

PhD in Engineering/CS/IS

Tools

1 GHz+ oscilloscopes

Electronic loads

PMBus/SMBus tools

Differential/current probes

Job description

Company

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area

Engineering Group > Systems Engineering

Overview

We are seeking a Staff or Sr. Staff Power Delivery and VR Validation Engineer (individual contributor) with deep expertise in voltage regulator characterization, PDN validation, and power integrity lab measurements. This hands‑on, high‑ownership role is responsible for ensuring robust, efficient, and reliable power delivery on server‑class platforms based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon SoC — from first power‑on through production readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead power delivery bring‑up from first power‑on, including rail sequencing verification, VR enable/disable, and initial PDN health checks.
• Define and own the end‑to‑end VR and PDN validation strategy and test plans from EVT through PVT.
• Validate:
  • VRs, Power rails, sequencing, margining, and VR control loops stability, OCP.
  • VR efficiency curves and load regulation.
  • Transient load response and droop characterization.
  • Multi‑phase VR current sharing and balancing.
  • Thermal characterization of VR components under load.
  • PDN impedance measurements.
  • Telemetry and interfaces (PMBUS/AVSBUS).
• Perform hands‑on debug of power delivery issues including rail failures, sequencing faults, VR anomalies, and PDN resonance issues.
• Drive root‑cause analysis and validation of fixes.
• Develop or maintain automation tools/scripts (Python, Shell, TCL) for VR testing automation.
• Support DVT/PVT, factory bring‑up, board re‑spins, and field issues.
• Support IR Drop, AC, and transient simulations as needed, and provide model‑to‑hardware correlation data to the PI simulation team.
• Contribute to VR design reviews, component selection, and design‑for‑validation (DFV) feedback to hardware design teams.
• Establish and maintain power delivery lab infrastructure, test fixtures, and measurement methodologies for VR and PDN characterization.
• Generate and present validation reports, bring‑up guides, and debug documentation to stakeholders including engineering teams, senior management, customers, and suppliers.
• Identify power delivery risks early in the design cycle and drive mitigation strategies in collaboration with hardware and PI simulation teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in board or platform hardware validation. Sr. Staff designation requires demonstrated broader scope, including ownership of multi‑platform validation strategy or team technical leadership.
• Hands‑on experience with power delivery/power integrity in server‑class or high‑performance platforms.
• Strong understanding of power sequencing and board‑level debug.
• Strong hands‑on experience validating multi‑phase voltage regulators, including control loop stability, efficiency, transient response, and PDN characterization.
• Proficiency with lab equipment:
  • High‑bandwidth oscilloscopes (1 GHz+) with appropriate probing.
  • E‑loads, bench supplies.
  • Differential probes and current probes.
  • PMBus/SMBus interface tools.
• Understanding of VR topologies (e.g., buck, multi‑phase) and control modes (CCM, DCM, AVP).
• Familiarity with PMBus/AVSBus protocols and VR telemetry interfaces.
• Automation and scripting experience (Python preferred).
• Strong documentation and communication skills.
• Ability to independently own validation execution and drive cross‑functional alignment on power delivery readiness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
• 10+ years of platform power bring‑up or validation experience.
• Experience with PI simulation tools (e.g., Simplis/Simetrix, ANSYS SIwave) for model‑to‑hardware correlation.
• Familiarity with 2.5D/3D packaging technologies and their impact on power delivery.
• Experience with AI/ML compute platforms and their high‑current, fast‑transient power delivery requirements.
• Experience with open compute / hyperscale server power delivery architectures (e.g., OCP, CRPS, ORv3).
• Familiarity with VR co‑design processes and feedback into hardware design teams.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, factory, or field escalations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 6+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 5+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.
• PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Systems Engineering or related work experience.

EEO Statement

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected classification.

Pay Range and Compensation & Benefits

$180,500.00 – $270,700.00