Senior Kernel & Device Drivers Engineer

SambaNova; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance coverage

Dental and vision insurance

Disability and life insurance

FSA/HSA options

Well-being programs

Job summary

SambaNova in Austin, Texas, is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead post-silicon bring-up and validation of high-speed IO and memory subsystems. This role is crucial for delivering reliable, high-performance AI systems at scale. The ideal candidate will have an MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science and at least 7 years of experience in post-silicon validation. Benefits include medical insurance, equity, and additional health programs.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience in post-silicon validation or system bring-up.
• Experience with high-speed IO or memory protocols (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet).

Responsibilities

• Own post-silicon bring-up and validation of high-speed IO and memory subsystems.
• Lead system-level debug to root cause complex issues across layers.
• Develop scripts and tools to automate validation and debug workflows.

Skills

High-speed IO or memory protocols

Analytical skills for test development

Scripting (bash, python)

Cross-functional debugging leadership

Strong ownership and execution skills

Effective communication

Education

MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Oscilloscopes

C programming

Job description

Overview

SambaNova is seeking a Principal Engineer to own post-silicon bring-up, debug, and validation of high-speed IO and memory subsystems within the DataScale® platform. This role is central to delivering reliable, high-performance AI systems at scale. You will lead complex system-level debug across silicon, board, and software layers, driving issues to root cause and resolution from first silicon through deployment. This is a hands-on role for an engineer with deep expertise in high-speed interfaces and hardware debug, who can operate in ambiguity and execute with high ownership.

Responsibilities

• System Bring-Up & Validation — Own post-silicon bring-up and validation of high-speed IO and memory subsystems, including characterization, functional validation, stress testing, and performance analysis.
• — Enable system power-on and bring-up readiness, including debug infrastructure, tooling, and contingency planning.
• Debug & Cross-Functional Execution — Lead system-level debug to root cause complex issues spanning silicon, board, and software layers; drive cross-functional resolution with design, firmware, verification, and system teams to ensure timely bring-up and issue closure.
• Productization & Deployment — Support product validation, deployment, and RMA debug in partnership with system and customer engineering teams; ensure readiness for product release with a focus on stability, performance, and field reliability.
• Pre-Silicon & Design Feedback — Review SoC, board design, and SI/PI analysis from a post-silicon debug and deployment perspective; contribute to pre-silicon verification and emulation to improve bring-up efficiency and coverage.
• Infrastructure & Methodology — Develop scripts and tools to automate validation, debug, and data analysis workflows; improve post-silicon validation methodologies, debug infrastructure, and test scalability.

Basic Qualifications

• MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science
• 7+ years of experience in post-silicon validation or system bring-up

Additional Required Qualifications

• Experience with high-speed IO or memory protocols such as PCIe, Ethernet, HBMs, CXL, or UCIe
• Strong analytical skills for test development and data analysis
• Proficiency in scripting (e.g., bash, python)
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional debugging efforts
• Self-starter with strong ownership and execution skills
• Clear and effective communicator with a proactive, collaborative approach to problem-solving

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep understanding of high-speed SerDes training and adaptation
• Experience with mixed-signal IO design and validation
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment (e.g., oscilloscopes)
• Proficiency in programming languages, such as C

Benefits & Policies

EEO Policy: SambaNova Systems is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Benefits Summary for US-Based, Full-Time Positions: SambaNova offers a competitive total rewards package, including base salary plus equity and benefits. We provide medical insurance premium coverage for employees and dependents, and offer additional benefits such as dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA/HSA options, and well-being programs.