Senior Emulation Engineer

Axiado; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiado seeks a Senior Emulation Engineer to lead system-level validation on ZeBu-based platforms for trusted compute and security features. You will validate firmware, OS, and use-case scenarios, while integrating transactors and ensuring robust hardware-software interoperability.

The role requires deep experience with emulation, SOC design, and R&D collaboration across RTL, DV and SW teams to pre-empt silicon issues and accelerate platform readiness.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in EE/CE or related field required.
• 7+ years hands-on prototyping, emulation, SOC design and validation.
• Experience running and debugging designs on ZeBu or comparable emulators.
• Experience with high/low-speed interfaces and bootloader/kernel bring‑up.
• Scripting in Python, Perl, TCL for automation.
• Strong problem solving, communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Execute and debug system-level tests on ZeBu emulation platforms and ensure interfaces are live.
• Bring up secure boot flows and platform security features (root of trust, attestation).
• Develop and run use-case scenarios for platform security and ransomware workloads.
• Triaging failures across RTL, firmware, driver, testbench and emulation environment; produce reproducible bug reports.
• Configure and integrate transactors and speed adapters (PCIe, CXL, Ethernet, NVMe, DDR).
• Develop host utilities and drivers to control XTORs (C/C++, Python, SystemVerilog DPI).
• Collaborate with RTL, DV and SW teams to resolve system-level bugs.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Self-driven

Education

B.S./M.S. in EE/CE or related

Tools

ZeBu

Palladium

Veloce

Python

Perl

TCL

SystemVerilog DPI

Job description

Axiado is building the future ofAI powereddigital infrastructure. We are afar-growing,well fundedsilicon, systems, and solutionscompany pioneering a newcategoryofsemiconductor called theTrusted Control/Compute Unit (TCU) that combinesadvanced hardware security,AI drivenresilience and efficiency, andreal-timeplatform management. Our technology protects the world’s most critical infrastructure—from data centers tonext generationcloud and AI platforms—by securing systems at thefoundation levels of hardware, independent of host CPUs and operating systems.

Founded in 2019and now over 150 employeesare strong, Axiado has evolved into a recognized leader in the convergence of AI, security, and silicon innovation. We partner with and are actively engaged in commercial programs with multiple Tier 1 industry leaders,validatingboth our technology and our long-term market trajectory.Axiado has also won numerousindustry awards for our ground-breaking products and technological innovations, includingbeing namedone ofFast Company’s 2025 Top 10 Most Innovative Companiesin Security,winning the2025 Global InfoSec Award for Outstanding AI Security Solution, and being named a finalist for the Global Semiconductor Alliance’s 2025 “Start-Up to Watch” award.

At Axiado, developing breakthrough technology takes more than great engineering—it takes a team of exceptional people who collaborate boldly, challenge assumptions, and take pride in building what comes next. We value curiosity, execution, respect, and a shared desire to make a meaningful impact on the security and reliability of the digital world.

Job Description

The Senior Emulation Engineer position is your opportunity to join one of the industry’s leading companies in platform security management and ransomware detection for cloud datacenters, 5G infrastructure and disaggregated compute ecosystems. We are looking for an emulation engineer to run and debug system-level workloads on Synopsys ZeBu emulation platforms and to own the integration and bring-up of transactors (XTORs) that connect the emulated SoC to real and virtual interfaces. Your focus is what happens once the design is running: getting the interfaces alive, executing firmware, OS, and use‑case validation, triaging failures, and finding issues before silicon. This role is critical for validating the interoperability of our design with commercial AI servers, and for bridging the gap between hardware and software, as well as supporting SW development.

Key Responsibilities :

Runtime validation

Execute and debug system-level tests, firmware, and software workloads on ZeBu emulation models

Bring up and validate secure boot flows (ROM, bootloader, Linux/RTOS) and platform security features such as root of trust, attestation, and firmware update on the emulated SoC

Develop and run use‑case scenarios covering platform security management, ransomware detection workloads, and datacenter/5G traffic patterns

Triage failures and isolate root cause across RTL, firmware, driver, testbench, XTOR, and emulation environment; produce clear, reproducible bug reports

Use ZeBu runtime debug capabilities (waveform capture, triggers, memory/register access, checkpoint/restore, force/release) to debug efficiently at speed

Run and manage long-running regressions and soak tests; track pass rates, failure trends, and run‑to‑run stability

Perform power‑aware and performance validation runs: activity capture, bandwidth/latency profiling, and use‑case benchmarking

XTOR integration and bring‑up

Integrate and configure ZeBu transactors and speed adapters (PCIe, CXL, Ethernet, NVMe, DDR/LPDDR, I2C/I3C/SMBus, SPI, UART, JTAG, etc.) at the testbench and runtime level

Bring up XTOR‑to‑DUT links from first connectivity through link training, enumeration, and stable data traffic; resolve protocol‑level and configuration issues

Develop host‑side software and drivers that control XTORs (C/C++, Python, SystemVerilog DPI, ZeBu API), including connections to real devices, virtual peripherals, or hybrid platforms

Debug XTOR-related failures using protocol analyzers, waveforms, and logs; determine whether the issue lies in the DUT, the XTOR, clocking/speed‑adapter configuration, or the host

Tune XTOR configuration for throughput, latency, and emulation‑frequency compatibility

Maintain XTOR configuration, version control, and documentation across model releases

Configure host servers, boot environments to interact with the emulated design

Integrate, develop and debug transactors, bridges and protocol adapters as needed

Debug and root‑cause embedded HW, SW and test failures in emulation

Collaborate with RTL, DV and SW teams to resolve system level bugs

Qualifications

BS or MS degrees or higher in EE, CE or related fields

7+ years of hands‑on experience in prototyping, emulation, SOC design and validation

Self‑driven, good problem solving and communication skills

Hands‑on experience running and debugging designs on Synopsys ZeBu (or comparable emulators such as Palladium or Veloce), including runtime control (NGTB or C based), waveform capture, and checkpoint/restore

Experience integrating and debugging high‑speed and low‑speed interfaces

Familiarity with embedded software bring‑up and bootloader/kernel interactions

Proficiency with scripting languages (Python, Perl, TCL) for automation

Preferred qualifications include: experience in design verification, hardware/software co‑simulation, Linux device drivers, bare‑metal FW or boot loaders

Additional Information

Axiado is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining the highest caliber talent in a diverse and multifaceted environment. We are headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, with access to the world's leading research, technology and talent.

We are building an exceptional team to secure every node on the internet. For us, solving real‑world problems takes precedence over purely theoretical problems. As a result, we prefer individuals with persistence, intelligence and high curiosity over pedigree alone. Working hard and smart, continuous learning and mutual support are all part of who we are.

Axiado is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Axiado does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non‑disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.