Senior SerDes Characterization Engineer, Platforms

Google; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a hardware-focused engineer in Sunnyvale to design and validate TX/SerDes across cutting-edge compute and networking platforms.

You will lead characterization, develop automated test pipelines, and collaborate with PHY/signal integrity teams to optimize transmitter performance, drive settings, and test coverage. The role emphasizes rapid iteration in a lab environment and partner/vendor coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience in high-speed electrical characterization, SerDes validation, or physical layer testing.
• Experience with high-speed TX characterization and advanced test instrumentation (e.g., DCA, real-time scopes, spectrum analyzers).

Responsibilities

• Own transmitter (TX) and receiver characterization and compliance testing for Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) interfaces across next generation compute and networking platforms.
• Execute detailed TX physical layer metrics analysis, including Signal-to-Noise-and-Distortion Ratio, jitter decomposition, eye linearity, transition time, and pulse response measurements. Ensure test compliance against applicable IEEE 802.3, OIF-CEI, and proprietary high speed interconnect specifications.
• Define and deploy automated test suites utilizing high performance real time and equivalent time (sampling/DCA) oscilloscopes, phase noise analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.
• Partner with Physical Layer (PHY) design and signal integrity engineers to evaluate TX FIR filter presets, correlate silicon behavior against pre-silicon models, and optimize transmitter drive settings.
• Develop robust data processing pipelines and visualization dashboards to report silicon health and parametric distributions.

Skills

High-speed characterization

SerDes validation

Physical layer testing

TX characterization

Test instrumentation

Education

Electrical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Physics

Related field or equivalent practical experience

Tools

DCA

Real-time oscilloscopes

Spectrum analyzers

SCPI

VISA

Job description

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience in high-speed electrical characterization, SerDes validation, or physical layer testing.
• Experience with high-speed TX characterization and advanced test instrumentation (e.g., DCA, real-time scopes, spectrum analyzers).

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 4 years of experience in high-speed electrical characterization, SerDes validation, or physical layer testing.
• Experience with high-speed TX characterization and advanced test instrumentation (e.g., DCA, real-time scopes, spectrum analyzers).

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience with SerDes TX compliance testing and high-speed signal integrity principles.
• Understanding of SerDes IO circuits, high-speed channel S-parameters, fixture de-embedding techniques, and transmission line theory.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or C++ for automated instrument control (VISA, SCPI) and data extraction.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work independently in a fast-moving lab environment.

About The Job

Our platforms team designs and builds the hardware, software, and networking technologies that power all of Google's services. In this role, you will design and build the systems that are the heart of the computing infrastructure. You will develop from the lowest levels of circuit design to system design and see those systems all the way through to manufacturing. Your work has the potential to shape the machinery that goes into our data centers affecting Google users. As a member of the team, you will manage projects in multiple areas. You will also monitor the performance of vendors working on projects and evaluate new technologies. The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what’s possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide. We're the driving team behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more. Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. US: $159000 - $230000 (USD) + 15% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Own transmitter (TX) and receiver characterization and compliance testing for Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) interfaces across next generation compute and networking platforms.
• Execute detailed TX physical layer metrics analysis, including Signal-to-Noise-and-Distortion Ratio, jitter decomposition, eye linearity, transition time, and pulse response measurements. Ensure test compliance against applicable IEEE 802.3, OIF-CEI, and proprietary high speed interconnect specifications.
• Define and deploy automated test suites utilizing high performance real time and equivalent time (sampling/DCA) oscilloscopes, phase noise analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.
• Partner with Physical Layer (PHY) design and signal integrity engineers to evaluate TX FIR filter presets, correlate silicon behavior against pre-silicon models, and optimize transmitter drive settings.
• Develop robust data processing pipelines and visualization dashboards to report silicon health and parametric distributions.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Google's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form.