Technical Staff Engineer- Validation

Microchip Technology Inc.; Chandler (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Microchip Technology Inc in Chandler, AZ is seeking a highly experienced Technical Staff Validation Engineer specializing in Delta-Sigma ADCs and precision mixed-signal products. You will lead silicon validation strategies, develop hardware test solutions, and collaborate with Design and Applications teams to resolve issues from first silicon to product release.

The role requires deep hands-on analog hardware skills, strong measurement techniques, and the ability to create automated test

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 12+ years hands-on semiconductor validation, mixed-signal test or related discipline.
• Deep knowledge of Delta-Sigma ADCs and precision mixed-signal validation.
• Experience with LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB for automation.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead silicon validation and characterization strategies for Delta-Sigma ADCs.
• Develop hardware test benches, fixtures, and automated measurement platforms.
• Collaborate with Design and Applications teams to resolve silicon issues.
• Mentor validation engineers and drive cross-project improvements.

Skills

Delta-Sigma ADCs

Mixed-signal validation

Validation leadership

Measurement techniques

Test automation

Data analysis

Communication skills

Debugging complex systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

LabVIEW

Python

MATLAB

NI PXI/PXIe instrumentation

Oscilloscopes

Spectrum analyzers

Audio Precision analyzers

Job description

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to be a part of something great? Want to join a 17,000-member team that works on the technology that powers the world around us? Looking for an atmosphere of trust, empowerment, respect, diversity, and communication? How about an opportunity to own a piece of a multi-billion dollar (with a B!) global organization? We offer all that and more at Microchip Technology Inc. People come to work at Microchip because we help design the technology that runs the world. They stay because our culture supports their growth and stability. They are challenged and driven by an incredible array of products and solutions with unlimited career potential. Microchip’s nationally-recognized Leadership Passage Programs support career growth where we proudly enroll over a thousand people annually. We take pride in our commitment to employee development, values-based decision making, and strong sense of community, driven by our Vision, Mission, and 11 Guiding Values; we affectionately refer to it as the Aggregate System and it’s won us countless awards for diversity and workplace excellence. Our company is built by dedicated team players who love to challenge the status quo; we did not achieve record revenue and over 30 years of quarterly profitability without a great team dedicated to empowering innovation. People like you. Visit our careers page to see what exciting opportunities and company perks await!

Job Description:

The Mixed-Signal and Linear Division (MSLD) is seeking a highly experienced Technical Staff Validation Engineer specializing in Delta-Sigma ADCs and precision mixed-signal products. This role requires deep hands‑on expertise in analog and mixed‑signal hardware, precision measurement techniques, and system‑level validation. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience developing validation strategies and hardware test solutions for high‑resolution ADCs, with strong knowledge of Delta‑Sigma architectures, signal integrity, low‑noise measurement techniques, clocking, reference design, and dynamic/static ADC performance characterization. As a senior technical contributor, this engineer will lead complex validation activities from first silicon through product release, partner closely with Design and Applications teams to resolve silicon and system‑level issues and develop scalable hardware and automation solutions that improve validation capability and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive silicon validation and characterization strategies for Delta‑Sigma ADCs and precision mixed‑signal products.
• Define validation requirements and methodologies for key ADC performance parameters, including SNR, SINAD, THD, THD+N, SFDR, ENOB, INL, DNL, offset, gain error, noise, linearity, input bandwidth, and reference performance.
• Design and develop precision bench‑level hardware, evaluation boards, test fixtures, signal‑conditioning circuitry, and automated measurement platforms for high‑resolution ADC characterization.
• Develop measurement methodologies that properly address clock integrity, jitter, grounding, shielding, power‑supply noise, reference noise, signal integrity, coherent sampling, FFT analysis, and measurement‑system noise floors.
• Perform detailed characterization across voltage, temperature, frequency, sampling rate, gain, operating mode, and other applicable operating conditions.
• Work closely with Design Engineering to understand Delta‑Sigma ADC architectures, analog front ends, references, clocking, digital filters, decimation, and device operating modes, translating architectural requirements into measurable silicon performance.
• Lead first‑silicon bring‑up and complex hardware and silicon debug, isolating issues between the DUT, test hardware, instrumentation, firmware/software, and silicon design.
• Analyze bench data to identify performance limitations, anomalies, and root causes, and collaborate with Design Engineering on corrective actions and design improvements.
• Develop automated characterization environments using NI PXI/PXIe instrumentation, LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or equivalent platforms to improve measurement repeatability, throughput, and data analysis.
• Correlate bench measurements with design expectations, simulation results, datasheet specifications, and other available validation or production data.
• Provide technically rigorous characterization data and analysis to support datasheets, application documentation, product qualification, and release decisions.
• Participate in architecture, design, and validation reviews, providing senior‑level input on testability, measurement methodology, hardware architecture, validation coverage, and product risk.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to validation engineers in precision measurement, ADC characterization, test hardware development, debugging, and automation best practices.
• Drive improvements in validation hardware, methodologies, instrumentation, automation, and reusable test platforms across multiple product developments.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related discipline; Master's degree preferred.
• 12+ years of hands‑on experience in semiconductor validation, characterization, mixed‑signal test, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Deep understanding of Delta‑Sigma ADCs, including oversampling, quantization noise, noise shaping, decimation filters, digital filtering, sampling theory, aliasing, and ADC noise mechanisms.
• Strong understanding of ADC performance characterization, including: SNR / SINAD, THD / THD+N, SFDR, ENOB, FFT‑based dynamic analysis, INL / DNL, Offset and gain error, Noise and noise spectral density, and Reference and power‑supply sensitivity.
• Strong hands‑on analog hardware skills, including schematic interpretation, PCB bring‑up, signal integrity, grounding, shielding, power integrity, low‑noise design, clock distribution, reference circuits, and precision signal conditioning.
• Extensive experience using laboratory instrumentation such as precision signal generators, Audio Precision analyzers, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, digital multimeters, power supplies, and NI PXI/PXIe instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of measurement‑system limitations, including instrument noise floor, harmonic distortion, clock jitter, impedance/loading, cabling, grounding, fixture parasitics, and source/DUT interactions.
• Experience developing automated validation systems using LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, or similar environments.
• Experience with common digital interfaces such as SPI, I²C, and other device‑control interfaces used for silicon configuration and test.
• Strong debugging and root‑cause analysis skills with the ability to differentiate silicon behavior from test‑system, hardware instrumentation, or software limitations.
• Ability to independently solve complex mixed‑signal measurement problems while collaborating effectively with Design, Applications, Product, Test, and Validation Engineering teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical findings to both engineering teams and technical leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical direction, mentorship, and leadership across validation activities and multiple product developments.

Travel Time: 0% - 25%

Physical Attributes: Hearing, Seeing, Talking, Works Alone, Works Around Others

Physical Requirements: 80% Sitting, 10% walking, 10% Standing

Microchip Technology Inc is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Poster.