Director - Silicon Validation

Ambiq; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Ambiq in Austin is seeking a Senior Manager, Silicon Validation Engineering to lead the post-silicon validation strategy across multiple SoCs and edge AI products. Reporting to the Engineering Fellow, you'll provide strategic leadership, drive engineering excellence, and build a high-performing global validation team.

Candidates should have a strong semiconductor engineering background with experience in validation automation and leading cross-functional teams. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence product direction and quality in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of semiconductor engineering experience, including post-silicon validation.
• 5+ years leading engineering teams with a focus on mentorship.
• Demonstrated success in validating complex mixed-signal SoCs.

Responsibilities

• Lead Ambiq's silicon validation organization across multiple SoC product families.
• Define validation strategy and methodologies to enhance product quality.
• Build and mentor a high-performing global validation team.

Skills

Semiconductor engineering experience

Team leadership

Validation automation

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field

Tools

Python

Tcl

C/C++

Job description

Position Summary

Senior Manager, Silicon Validation Engineering is a senior technical leadership role responsible for defining and executing Ambiq's post‑silicon validation strategy across multiple generations of SoCs and edge AI products.

Reporting directly to the Engineering Fellow, this leader will provide strategic and organizational leadership for silicon validation, characterization, bring‑up, debug, and validation methodology across multiple product families. The role serves as a key technical partner to architecture, design, verification, firmware, systems, product engineering, and executive engineering leadership to ensure first‑pass silicon success and rapid product commercialization.

In addition to leading day‑to‑day execution, this individual will establish the long‑term vision for Ambiq's validation organization by developing scalable validation methodologies, expanding automation infrastructure, building globally distributed engineering teams, and driving engineering excellence across the company.

This role will be on‑site 5 days a week in NW Austin.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Ambiq's silicon validation organization across multiple SoC and edge AI product families.
• Define validation strategy, methodologies, automation, and engineering best practices.
• Drive post‑silicon bring‑up, validation, characterization, debug, and production test correlation.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high‑performing global validation team across engineering sites.
• Partner with Architecture, Design, Verification, Firmware, Systems, Product Engineering, and Applications teams to ensure successful product execution.
• Establish scalable validation infrastructure, automation frameworks, and lab capabilities that improve engineering productivity and product quality.
• Manage project priorities, staffing, schedules, and technical risk across multiple concurrent development programs.
• Provide technical leadership for complex silicon debug and customer issue resolution.
• Influence engineering direction across multiple product families while fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of semiconductor engineering experience, including post‑silicon validation, characterization, or silicon bring‑up.
• 5+ years leading engineering teams, including hiring, mentoring, and organizational development.
• Demonstrated success validating complex mixed‑signal SoCs and bringing products from first silicon to production.
• Strong understanding of digital, analog, embedded software, and power management systems.
• Experience developing validation automation using Python, Tcl, C/C++, or similar languages.
• Hands‑on experience with lab instrumentation, silicon debug, and characterization.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and drive execution across globally distributed engineering organization.
• Experience with ultra‑low‑power SoCs, edge AI devices, and ARM core architectures.
• Experience with advanced power management architectures, low‑power design techniques, dynamic voltage/frequency scaling, and power optimization.
• Experience supporting wireless SoCs including Bluetooth LE, Matter, Thread, Wi‑Fi, or similar technologies.
• Experience developing validation methodologies, workflows, and reusable automation frameworks.
• Experience with statistical characterization and production data analytics.
• Experience supporting customer escalations, silicon debug, and RMAs.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational leadership skills.

Must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.