Principal DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY Validation Engineer

Ampere; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 292,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium medical insurance

Unlimited Flextime

401K retirement plan

Job summary

Ampere in Santa Clara is seeking a Principal DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY Validation Engineer. In this role, you will lead high-quality validation strategies for next-gen memory subsystems and tackle significant technical challenges to ensure performance consistency.

Ideal candidates should have over 6 years of DDR5 expertise and a solid background in compliance testing. The position offers a market-based salary range from $195,000 to $292,000 and promises benefits including premium insurance and unlimited flextime.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY expertise in bring-up validation, training/tuning, and stability issue resolution.
• Solid background in DDR5 / LPDDR5 Compliance testing.
• Strong oscilloscope-based debug skills using eye, jitter, clock, and data observations.

Responsibilities

• Own DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY-focused validation strategy across bring-up, tuning, and release readiness.
• Lead DDR5 / LPDDR5 training/tuning validation and optimization.
• Drive signal-quality analysis and root-cause using eye/margin/jitter/clocking.

Skills

DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY expertise

Compliance testing

Oscilloscope debugging

SI/PI knowledge

C Programming

Python proficiency

Education

BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science

Job description

Ampere is a semiconductor design company for a new era, leading the future of computing with an innovative approach to CPU design focused on high-performance, energy efficient AI compute. As a pioneer in the new frontier of energy efficient high-performance computing, Ampere is part of the Softbank Group of companies driving sustainable computing for AI, Cloud, and edge applications. Join us at Ampere and work alongside a passionate and growing team — we’d love to have you apply!

About The Role

As a Principal DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY Validation Engineer, you will apply extensive, specialized expertise and visionary leadership to strategically deliver high-quality, next‑gen memory subsystem validation for AI‑integrated processors. This pivotal role leads to significant, unique technical challenges, requiring incisive evaluation of complex data and intangible factors. You will spearhead DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY‑focused validation and signal‑quality root‑cause efforts assuring exemplary performance and absolute data/stability consistency.

What You'll Achieve

• Own DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY‑focused validation strategy across bring‑up, tuning, and release readiness.
• Lead DDR5 / LPDDR5 training/tuning validation and optimization (read/write leveling, timing alignment, Vref, ODT/termination, training convergence).
• Drive signal‑quality analysis and root‑cause using eye/margin/jitter/clocking and correlation to BER/error rate.
• Build and extend DDR5 / LPDDR5 validation automation and debug tooling using C for execution, logging, sweeps, and data reduction.
• Provide principal‑level technical leadership through complex debug ownership, engineering mentoring, and evidence‑based reporting/recommendations.

About You

• 6+ years of DDR5 / LPDDR5 PHY expertise in bring‑up validation, training/tuning, and stability issue resolution.
• Solid background in DDR5 / LPDDR5 Compliance testing.
• Strong oscilloscope‑based debug skills using eye, jitter, clock, and data observations.
• Deep knowledge of how SI/PI impacts DDR5 / LPDDR5 behavior and link stability.
• Competence in analog characterization and turning measurements into clear go/no‑go performance decisions.
• C Programming and Python proficiency to build automation and debug tools for validation flows.
• Additional skills highly desired: JEDEC.

Education

• BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science & 8 years of related experience; MS degree & 6 years.

Pay And Benefits

The full base pay range for this role is between $195,000 and $292,000. Our benefits include health, wellness, and financial programs that support employees through every stage of life.

Benefit Highlights Include

• Premium medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, as well as income protection and a 401K retirement plan, so that you can feel secure in your health and financial future.
• Unlimited Flextime and 10+ paid holidays so that you can embrace a healthy work‑life balance.
• A variety of healthy snacks, energizing espresso, and refreshing drinks to keep you fueled and focused throughout the day.

Ampere fosters an inclusive culture that empowers employees to do more and grow more. We are excited to share more about our career opportunities with you through the interview process. Ampere is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, age, veteran and/or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.