Senior Hardware Validation & Failure Analysis Engineer

Advanced Micro Devices; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Advanced Micro Devices is seeking a Senior Hardware Validation & Failure Analysis Engineer in Santa Clara, CA. This role focuses on leading validation activities, troubleshooting hardware, and collaborating with multiple teams to ensure product reliability and quality.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in hardware validation, failure analysis, and system debugging, along with excellent communication skills.

This position offers a unique opportunity to influence product quality and customer satisfaction significantly.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in hardware validation and failure analysis.
• Deep understanding of hardware design principles.
• Excellent communication skills and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead hardware validation activities for new product introductions.
• Conduct comprehensive hardware failure analysis and debugging.
• Collaborate with teams to resolve complex technical issues.

Skills

Hardware validation

Failure analysis

System debugging

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Cadence

SPICE

Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond.

Together, we advance your career.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Hardware Validation & Failure Analysis Engineer to lead hardware validation, system bring-up, failure analysis, and product sustainment activities across complex computing and embedded hardware platforms. In this role, you will be responsible for evaluating product performance throughout the product lifecycle, from pre-silicon validation and post-silicon bring‑up to manufacturing support, field issue resolution, and long‑term product sustainment.

THE PERSON

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in hardware debugging, root cause analysis, and system‑level validation with a hands‑on approach to troubleshooting and cross‑functional collaboration. You will work closely with hardware design teams, manufacturing partners, suppliers, and quality organizations to ensure product reliability, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Hardware Validation & Product Bring‑Up

• Lead hardware validation activities for new product introductions, including pre‑silicon and post‑silicon validation and system bring‑up.
• Support hardware development teams during platform bring‑up and identify design risks, performance issues, and integration challenges early in the development cycle.
• Develop and execute validation plans to verify hardware functionality, reliability, and performance.
• Characterize and validate critical subsystems and components, including power delivery, memory, high‑speed interfaces, and programmable devices.
• Perform voltage, frequency, signal integrity, and performance characterization at both system and component levels.

Failure Analysis & Root Cause Investigation

• Conduct comprehensive hardware failure analysis on field returns, manufacturing failures, and customer‑reported issues.
• Perform hands‑on debugging and troubleshooting at the system, board, and component levels to isolate root causes.
• Utilize both non‑destructive and destructive failure analysis techniques to identify electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing defects.
• Analyze field failure data and identify trends related to PCB, PCBA, component, and mechanical failures.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions to improve product quality and reliability.

Product Sustainment & Manufacturing Support

• Oversee hardware performance and reliability following first customer shipment (FCS) and throughout the product lifecycle.
• Support sustainment efforts for existing and newly released products, including troubleshooting, repair, rework, and component replacement.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and field support teams to resolve escalated product issues.
• Provide technical leadership for manufacturing yield improvement initiatives and production issue resolution.
• Partner with contract manufacturers and OEM partners to optimize manufacturing processes and improve product quality.

Design Improvement & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with hardware designers, mechanical engineers, manufacturing teams, suppliers, and vendors to resolve complex technical issues.
• Recommend hardware, software, mechanical, and manufacturing process improvements based on validation findings and failure analysis results.
• Support component qualification activities, including alternate source qualification and component substitutions.
• Collaborate with product management and business stakeholders to understand customer requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Communicate technical findings, project status, risks, and recommendations to both technical and non‑technical audiences.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong experience in hardware validation, system bring‑up, failure analysis, product sustainment, or related engineering roles.
• Strong hands‑on experience troubleshooting and debugging hardware systems down to the component level.
• Deep understanding of hardware design principles, including circuit design, PCB design, and system integration.
• Experience performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions for hardware failures.
• Knowledge of hardware validation methodologies, debugging techniques, and reliability testing.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, quality, and field‑return investigations.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across global, cross‑functional teams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Expertise in validating and characterizing:
  • DC/DC power systems
  • FPGA and CPLD devices
  • PCIe interfaces
  • DDR4 memory systems
  • SRAM
  • ASIC‑based platforms
• Experience with signal integrity analysis and voltage/frequency characterization.
• Familiarity with hardware development and design tools, including:
  • Cadence
  • SPICE and related simulation tools
  • Schematic capture and PCB design tools
• Experience with failure analysis techniques, including both non‑destructive and destructive analysis methods.
• Knowledge of EDVT, MDVT, ORT, and other environmental and reliability stress testing methodologies.
• Experience analyzing manufacturing yield issues and implementing process improvements.
• Working knowledge of Python scripting and the ability to modify and maintain existing automation scripts.
• Experience working with OEMs, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and component vendors.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Hardware Validation & Verification
• System Bring‑Up & Debug
• Failure Analysis & Root Cause Investigation
• PCB & Component‑Level Troubleshooting
• Product Reliability & Quality Engineering
• Manufacturing Support & Yield Improvement
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Technical Leadership & Communication
• Continuous Improvement Mindset

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on product quality, reliability, and customer success by driving hardware excellence from development through production and sustainment.

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

LOCATION

Santa Clara, CA

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee‑based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third‑party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.