Principal Design Verification Engineer (Silicon Engineering)

SPACEX; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 355,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term incentives

Medical coverage

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Principal Design Verification Engineer to lead digital ASIC/FPGA verification at block and system levels. You will drive verification plans, develop test benches, and advance pre‑ and post‑silicon validation for Starlink ASICs and related ground infrastructure.

You should bring 10+ years in design verification, strong Python scripting, and experience with UVM/OVM/VMM. The role requires a proactive, collaborative engineer willing to work extended hours to meet milestones.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science.
• 10+ years of experience with design verification and test bench development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute verification test plans from start to finish.
• Verify digital ASIC and FPGA at block and system level.
• Contribute to pre‑silicon and post‑silicon validation.
• Hands‑on self‑starter able to verify complex digital designs.

Skills

Digital ASIC verification

FPGA verification

Python scripting

Constrained random verification

Test plan development

Coverage modeling

Post‑silicon validation

Object‑oriented programming

Education

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science

Tools

UVM/OVM/VMM

RTL design

Job description

Principal Design Verification Engineer (Silicon Engineering)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

PRINCIPAL DESIGN VERIFICATION ENGINEER (SILICON ENGINEERING)

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.

We are seeking a motivated, proactive, and intellectually curious engineer who will work alongside world-class cross-disciplinary teams (systems, firmware, architecture, design, validation, product engineering, ASIC implementation). In this role, you will be developing cutting‑edge next‑generation ASICs for deployment in space and ground infrastructures around the globe. These chips are enabling connectivity in places it has previously not been available, affordable or reliable. Your efforts will help deliver cutting‑edge solutions that will expand the performance and capabilities of the Starlink network.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for digital ASIC and/or FPGA verification at block and system level
• Lead and execute verification test plan, development, and milestones from beginning to end
• Contribute towards pre-silicon verification, chip bring-up and post-silicon validation
• Be a hands‑on self‑starter who can execute the steps required to fully verify a complex digital designs

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science
• 10+ years of experience with design verification and test bench development
• 10+ years of experience with design verification and test bench development

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering
• Experience with verification methodologies such as UVM/OVM/VMM
• Strong object-oriented programming knowledge
• Strong problem‑solving and coding skills
• Experience in constrained random verification
• Expertise in developing test plans, implementing coverage models, and analyzing results
• Experience with scripting languages, e.g. Python for automation
• RTL design, chip bring‑up, and post‑silicon validation experience
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed to meet critical milestones

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Design Verification Engineer / Principal: $210,000.00 - $355,000.00/per year

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long‑term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here .

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Automatic Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.