SoC Power Validation Engineer - San Diego, California, United States of America
$115,600 - $173,400 USD yearly
Originally posted 23 June 2026 by the employer.
Verify CPU, GPU, DDR, and NOC power across system-level SoC IPs through post-silicon validation, thermal correlation, and PVT testing.
About the role
Qualcomm's validation team is responsible for post-silicon validation to verify CPU, GPU, DDR, and NOC power at core and system levels. The role focuses on pre-silicon and post-silicon power, thermal, and performance correlation across SoC IPs.
What you'll do
- Perform pre-silicon and post-silicon power, thermal, and performance correlation, debug, and analysis at the system level across SoC IPs. - Execute regression and PVT (Process, Voltage, Temperature) testing across parts, lots, and wafers, analyzing data to extract key metrics. - Collaborate with architects, designers, and verification engineers to define and execute validation plans and identify gap or risk areas. - Debug low-level software and hardware issues using debug tools such as JTAG and kernel debuggers. - Conduct Vmin/Fmax measurements and collect data for performance characterization. - Automate validation flows, data collection, and analysis using Python or similar scripting languages.
What you'll need
- Bachelor's degree in Computer and/or Electrical Engineering, Science, or related field with 2+ years of ASIC design, verification, validation, integration, or related work experience (or Master's with 1+ year, or PhD). - Understanding of digital design fundamentals, SoC power trees, and low-power techniques. - Experience with post-silicon validation flows and regression/PVT testing. - Proficiency with debug tools including JTAG and kernel debuggers. - Experience with Vmin/Fmax measurements and characterization. - Scripting and automation experience with Python or similar languages.
Nice to have
- Master’s degree in Computer and/or Electrical Engineering. - Experience in silicon parametric testing and characterization (Vmin/Power). - Programming and scripting skills in C and Python. - Familiarity with lab equipment such as logic analyzers and oscilloscopes. - Experience with debug platforms such as Lauterbach Trace32. - Basic RTL understanding and exposure to transistor power fundamentals.
Skills: Pre-Si Power, Post-Si Power, thermal analysis, JTAG, kernel debuggers, Vmin/Fmax measurements
This role has been open 194 days — well above the 41-day median for Post-Silicon Validation roles.
Post-Silicon Validation · Silicon Validation
|
Open roles in category
430
|
Median days open
41 d
|
Median salary
$166k
|
See the full market breakdown ▾Category comparison, skills in demand, and who else is hiring
| Metric | Qualcomm | All employers we track in this specialty (430 roles · 62 employers) |
|---|---|---|
| Open roles in this specialty | 38 | 430 |
| Open roles in the wider Silicon Validation & Test family | 137 | 2235 · 112 employers |
| Median days open | 31 d | 41 d (−10 d vs this employer) |
| Median salary (USD postings) | — | $166k |
Skills observed across this category: Pre-Si Power, Post-Si Power, thermal analysis, JTAG, kernel debuggers, Vmin/Fmax measurements
Who's hiring in this category
- AMD · 54 open roles · median 44 d
- Qualcomm (this employer) · 38 open roles · median 31 d
- Micron Technology · 36 open roles · median 40 d
- NVIDIA · 24 open roles · median 25 d
- Microchip Technology · 22 open roles · median 76 d
- Apple · 20 open roles · median 3 d
How we counted: 430 open Post-Silicon Validation (Silicon Validation) roles from 62 employers tracked in the SemiconductorJobs index, counted 25 Oct 2026. Specialty figures count only roles carrying this exact specialty label, so an employer's related work in neighbouring specialties is not included there — it is counted in the wider Silicon Validation & Test family row. Figures refresh nightly.