System Validation Engineer

Per International; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Retirement plans

Flexible time off

Job summary

Per International is seeking a hands-on System Validation Engineer to lead system-level bring-up, debugging, and validation of advanced electro-optical hardware featuring mixed-signal ASICs, photonic modules, DSPs, and PMICs. The role emphasizes analog/mixed-signal expertise, lab skills, and cross-functional collaboration.

The engineer will own validation plans, troubleshoot at component to system levels, develop Python-based test automation, and collaborate with electronics, firmware,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or closely related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on PCB bring-up, system validation, signal/power integrity, hardware debugging, or failure analysis.
• Strong understanding of analog and mixed-signal electronics, including bias networks, LDOs, PLLs, ADCs, DACs, and mixed-signal interfaces.
• Proven experience troubleshooting and debugging electronic hardware at PCB and system levels.
• Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other electronic test equipment.
• Experience with optoelectronic testing or debugging using optical power meters, photodetectors, or related instrumentation.
• Understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, noise analysis, and hardware performance validation.
• Working knowledge of Python for laboratory automation, test development, and data analysis.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and component datasheets.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root-cause investigation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead PCB and system-level bring-up, from initial power-on through functional validation.
• Debug complex electro-optical systems involving mixed-signal ASICs, photonic modules, DSP chips, and power management ICs.
• Identify and isolate hardware failures, determining root causes at the component or subsystem level.
• Troubleshoot analog circuits and hardware/firmware interactions using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other laboratory instruments.
• Perform signal integrity and power integrity measurements, identifying sources of noise, interference, and crosstalk.
• Conduct failure analysis on prototype and production hardware, recommending corrective actions to improve performance and reliability.
• Validate chip-to-board communication interfaces, including I2C, SPI, UART, and GPIO.
• Develop and execute system-level validation plans with clearly defined pass/fail criteria.
• Create Python scripts for test automation, data collection, analysis, and laboratory testing.
• Collaborate with electrical, firmware, photonics, and manufacturing engineering teams to resolve integration challenges.
• Support manufacturing partners with assembly validation, calibration, and production testing.
• Document test procedures, validation results, technical findings, and troubleshooting activities.

Skills

PCB bring-up

System validation

Hardware debugging

Analog/mixed-signal electronics

Python for automation

Signal integrity / power integrity

Schematic reading

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Spectrum analyzers

Digital multimeters

Python

Job description

Industry: Semiconductor | Electronics | Photonics | Advanced Hardware Technology

About the Role

We are partnering with an innovative technology company developing next-generation sensing and advanced hardware systems.

We are seeking a hand-on System Validation Engineer to support system-level bring-up, debugging, and validation of complex electro-optical hardware incorporating mixed-signal ASICs, photonic modules, DSP chips, and power management ICs.

This role is ideal for an engineer with strong analog electronics knowledge, extensive laboratory experience, and the ability to systematically troubleshoot hardware issues at the component, PCB, and system levels.

The position offers opportunities for technical ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and potential progression into a module leadership role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead PCB and system-level bring-up, from initial power-on through functional validation.
• Debug complex electro-optical systems involving mixed-signal ASICs, photonic modules, DSP chips, and power management ICs.
• Identify and isolate hardware failures, determining root causes at the component or subsystem level.
• Troubleshoot analog circuits and hardware/firmware interactions using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other laboratory instruments.
• Perform signal integrity and power integrity measurements, identifying sources of noise, interference, and crosstalk.
• Conduct failure analysis on prototype and production hardware, recommending corrective actions to improve performance and reliability.
• Validate chip-to-board communication interfaces, including I2C, SPI, UART, and GPIO.
• Develop and execute system-level validation plans with clearly defined pass/fail criteria.
• Create Python scripts for test automation, data collection, analysis, and laboratory testing.
• Collaborate with electrical, firmware, photonics, and manufacturing engineering teams to resolve integration challenges.
• Support manufacturing partners with assembly validation, calibration, and production testing.
• Document test procedures, validation results, technical findings, and troubleshooting activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline, preferably from a research-intensive university.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant hands-on experience in PCB bring-up, system validation, signal/power integrity, hardware debugging, or failure analysis.
• Strong understanding of analog and mixed-signal electronics, including bias networks, low-dropout regulators (LDOs), PLLs, ADCs, DACs, and mixed-signal interfaces.
• Proven experience troubleshooting and debugging electronic hardware at the PCB and system levels.
• Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other electronic test equipment.
• Experience with optoelectronic testing or debugging using optical power meters, photodetectors, or related instrumentation.
• Understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, noise analysis, and hardware performance validation.
• Working knowledge of Python for laboratory automation, test development, and data analysis.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and component datasheets.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root-cause investigation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with board-level integration and validation of System-in-Package (SiP) or ASIC-based platforms.
• Familiarity with embedded microcontrollers, System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures, and FPGA-based hardware.
• Experience with mixed-signal semiconductor devices, power management ICs, or photonic hardware systems.
• Knowledge of hardware communication protocols, including I2C, SPI, UART, and GPIO.
• Experience with reliability testing methodologies such as thermal cycling, HALT, and HASS.
• Exposure to prototype development, design validation, manufacturing test, and high-volume production.
• Experience supporting manufacturing partners or transitioning hardware products from development into mass production.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on advanced electro-optical systems and next-generation hardware technologies.
• Hands-on ownership of system validation, hardware debugging, and technical problem-solving.
• Collaboration with experienced engineers across electronics, photonics, firmware, and manufacturing disciplines.
• Opportunities for technical growth and progression into module-level engineering leadership.
• Competitive benefits package, including healthcare, retirement plans, and flexible time off, subject to eligibility and local regulations.
• A collaborative, fast-paced engineering environment focused on innovation and product development.