SoC Validation Engineer

NXP Semiconductors; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NXP Semiconductors in Austin, TX seeks a Digital SoC Validation Engineer to drive pre-silicon emulation and silicon validation. You will build test plans, port content, and debug across emulation and silicon, collaborating with design, firmware, software and product teams to ensure quality silicon releases.

The role requires strong C/Python scripting, ARM-based systems experience, and lab debugging skills. Join a cross-functional team focusing on automotive, industrial, networking, and IoT

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in SoC validation, emulation / silicon validation.
• Strong understanding of digital design fundamentals, computer architecture, and SoC architectures.
• Experience with embedded ARM-based systems.
• Knowledge of hardware debugging techniques and lab equipment.
• Experience with C programming language.
• Knowledge of ARM assembly language.
• Experience with Linux environment.
• Proficiency in Python, Perl, or Shell scripting.
• Experience with interfaces and protocols (PCIe, USB, Ethernet, CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, MIPI).
• Familiarity with FPGA prototyping and board-level validation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop validation plans for digital SoC subsystems and full-chip functionality from design specifications.
• Develop and/or port validation content at IP, subsystem, and/or SoC level features/interfaces.
• Bring-up, execute, and debug validation tests on pre-silicon emulation and actual silicon.
• Characterize and debug silicon devices under process, voltage, and temperature variations.
• Design and develop validation environments, test frameworks, and automation scripts.
• Debug silicon issues using lab equipment (osilloscope, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, JTAG).
• Analyze failures and work with teams for root cause and corrective actions.
• Validate high-speed interfaces and industry-standard protocols (PCIe, USB, Ethernet, CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, MIPI).
• Develop Python, Perl, Shell, or C/C++ automation to improve efficiency.
• Review architecture and verification results to ensure coverage.
• Support product qualification, reliability testing, and customer issue resolution.
• Generate validation reports and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Skills

SoC validation

Emulation/Silicon

ARM-based systems

Python

C/C++

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field

Tools

ARM toolchain

Python

C/C++

Shell scripting

FPGA prototyping

Job description

NXP Digital SoC Validation Engineer

NXP is seeking a highly motivated Digital SoC Validation Engineer to join the Silicon Validation team in Austin, Texas. The successful candidate will be responsible for both pre-silicon emulation and silicon validation, debug, and characterization of complex System-on-Chip (SoC) products used in automotive, industrial, networking, and IoT applications. In this capacity, the successful candidate will be developing test plans, writing/porting test code, and executing/debugging tests on both emulation and silicon. This role requires close collaboration with design, verification, firmware, software, and product engineering teams to ensure high-quality silicon releases.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop validation plans for digital SoC subsystems and full-chip functionality from design specifications.
• Develop and/or port validation test content at IP, sub-system, and/or SoC level features/interfaces.
• Bring-up, execute, and debug validation tests on both pre-silicon emulation and actual silicon.
• Perform characterization and debug of silicon devices under process, voltage, and temperature variations.
• Design and develop validation environments, test frameworks, and automation scripts.
• Debug silicon issues using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, protocol analyzers, and JTAG debuggers.
• Analyze failures and collaborate with design and verification teams for root-cause identification and corrective actions.
• Validate high-speed interfaces and industry-standard protocols including PCIe, USB, Ethernet, CAN, SPI, I2C, UART, and MIPI interfaces.
• Develop Python, Perl, Shell, or C/C++ based automation solutions to improve validation efficiency.
• Review architecture, design specifications, and verification results to ensure complete coverage.
• Support product qualification, reliability testing, and customer issue resolution activities.
• Generate detailed validation reports and communicate findings to cross-functional stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in SoC validation, emulation / silicon validation.
• Strong understanding of digital design fundamentals, computer architecture, and SoC architectures.
• Experience with embedded processors such as ARM-based systems.
• Knowledge of hardware debug techniques and laboratory equipment.
• Experience in C programming language.
• Knowledge of ARM assembly language.
• Experience with Linux environment.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, Perl, or Shell scripting).
• Experience with industry-standard interfaces and communication protocols.
• Familiarity with FPGA prototyping and board-level validation.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.

Equal Opportunity

NXP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer regardless of age, color, national origin, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status as a disabled veteran and/or veteran of the Vietnam Era or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, NXP will provide reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.

Company Information

NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) enables a smarter, safer, and more sustainable world through innovation. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is pushing boundaries in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. For more information, visit www.nxp.com Bright Minds. Bright Futures. We believe that a key component to growing our business is to develop our people. To enable you to grow your career at NXP, we offer online and offline learning opportunities to help you develop some of your core and professional skills. Commitment At NXP. We recognize NXP is a powerful change agent as we continue to deliver innovative solutions that advance a more sustainable future. We remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability and making measurable year-on-year progress. Also, we aim to create an inclusive work environment and we will not tolerate racism, discrimination or harassment of any kind. We have programs in place focused on diversity, inclusion and equality.