SOC Emulation Engineer - Hardware Emulation Infrastructure

Tenstorrent; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Highly competitive compensation package

Equal opportunity employer

Job summary

Tenstorrent is seeking a junior-to-mid level SOC Emulation Engineer based in Austin, TX or Santa Clara, CA. This hybrid role focuses on supporting hardware emulation infrastructure and chip design teams by integrating vendor and custom hardware, developing Python test frameworks, and providing technical support.

Ideal candidates will have a background in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science with experience in chip design or emulation. Compensation ranges from $100k to $500k, reflecting skills and experience.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in chip design, verification, or emulation.
• Ability to integrate vendor and custom transactors into RTL testbenches.
• Experience building Python APIs and maintaining compilation flows.

Responsibilities

• Support hardware emulation infrastructure and internal chip design teams.
• Develop Python-based test frameworks for chip projects.
• Provide technical support to emulation users.

Skills

Python for automation and test development

C++ knowledge

SystemVerilog RTL navigation

Integration of vendor transactors

Chip design and verification experience

Education

Background in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science

Tools

Synopsys Zebu

CMake

pybind11

Job description

Tenstorrent is leading the industry on cutting‑edge AI technology, revolutionizing performance expectations, ease of use, and cost efficiency. With AI redefining the computing paradigm, solutions must evolve to unify innovations in software models, compilers, platforms, networking, and semiconductors. Our diverse team of technologists have developed a high‑performance RISC‑V CPU from scratch, and share a passion for AI and a deep desire to build the best AI platform possible. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a commitment to solving hard problems. We are growing our team and looking for contributors of all seniorities.

We are seeking a junior‑to‑mid level SOC Emulation Engineer to support our hardware emulation infrastructure and internal chip design teams. This role focuses on integrating vendor and custom hardware transactors, developing Python‑based test frameworks, and providing technical support to emulation users across multiple chip projects.

This role is hybrid, based out of Santa Clara, CA or Austin, TX.

We welcome candidates at various experience levels for this role. During the interview process, candidates will be assessed for the appropriate level, and offers will align with that level, which may differ from the one in this posting.

Who You Are

• Background in Electrical/Computer Engineering or Computer Science with 1‑3 years of experience in chip design, verification, or emulation.
• Proficient in Python for automation and test development, with a working knowledge of C++ and the ability to navigate SystemVerilog RTL.
• Skilled at using modern AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot) to accelerate code generation, debugging, and documentation analysis.
• Energetic about supporting diverse teams, from high‑level software to low‑level firmware, to solve complex runtime and build issues.

What We Need

• Ability to integrate vendor and custom transactors into RTL testbenches while handling clock domain and tri‑state resolution.
• Experience building Python APIs (using pybind11) and maintaining CMake‑based compilation flows for emulation libraries.
• Solid understanding of standard chip interfaces, bus protocols, and hardware synchronization (resets/clocking).
• A commitment to triaging and debugging the full stack, spanning from Python tests and C++ bindings down to hardware.

What You Will Learn

• Deepening your expertise with world‑class platforms like Synopsys Zebu for massive‑scale silicon validation.
• Gaining a holistic view of chip development by bridging the gap between hardware RTL and software drivers.
• Building and optimizing large‑scale emulation build and run tooling for high‑performance engineering teams.
• Refining your ability to gather requirements and facilitate communication between hardware designers and software engineers.

Compensation for all engineers at Tenstorrent ranges from $100k - $500k including base and variable compensation targets. Experience, skills, education, background and location all impact the actual offer made.

Tenstorrent offers a highly competitive compensation package and benefits, and we are an equal opportunity employer.

This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant being eligible to access U.S. export‑controlled technology. Due to U.S. export laws, including those codified in the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Company is required to ensure compliance with these laws when transferring technology to nationals of certain countries (such as EAR Country Groups D:1, E1, and E2). These requirements apply to persons located in the U.S. and all countries outside the U.S. As the position offered will have direct and/or indirect access to information, systems, or technologies subject to these laws, the offer may be contingent upon your citizenship/permanent residency status or ability to obtain prior license approval from the U.S. Commerce Department or applicable federal agency. If employment is not possible due to U.S. export laws, any offer of employment will be rescinded.