Staff Hardware Validation Engineer

About the role

The role defines validation strategies and comprehensive board-level and inter-board level validation plans. The role personally performs hands-on testing and verification activities across the product lifecycle.

Software engineers turn product ideas into working code. Engineers work in small teams, review each other's work, and ship in small batches. Most teams follow agile practices such as sprints and daily standups. Engineers also write tests, fix bugs, and improve performance. The field values clear communication as much as technical skill. Engineers spend part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging, not just writing new code. The ability to explain a technical decision in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest.

Key facts

What you'll do

Validation plans, test procedures, and qualification activities are aligned with ODM partners while ODM validation reports are reviewed and consistency with internal quality standards is ensured.

Hardware failures and validation escapes are investigated through systematic root-cause analysis, and fixes are validated while closure of identified issues is verified.

Corrective actions are driven with hardware design, firmware, manufacturing, and quality teams to resolve identified problems.

Validation status, risks, defects, and corrective actions are tracked while validation results, recommendations, and readiness assessments are presented to engineering leadership and stakeholders.

Requirements

A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field is required.

Board-level hardware validation experience of 7+ years is required for the role.

A strong understanding of digital and mixed-signal electronic systems is required.

Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation and measurement techniques using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, power analyzers, and environmental chambers is required.

Experience validating high-speed interfaces such as PCIe, USB, Ethernet, DDR, MIPI, SPI, I2C, and UART is required.

Experience working with ODMs, contract manufacturers, or external engineering partners is required.

Strong hardware debugging and root-cause analysis skills are required to investigate and resolve issues.

Test automation is developed using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or similar tools to improve validation efficiency.

Technical documentation and communication skills are maintained for reporting and stakeholder engagement.

International and domestic travel is supported as needed for validation activities and ODM collaboration.

Nice to have

Experience with server, networking, embedded, AI/ML hardware, or datacenter platforms is beneficial to broaden validation coverage.

Support for NPI and manufacturing ramp activities helps align validation with production readiness.

Schematic review and PCB design fundamentals are applied to identify potential issues early in the design cycle.

Practical notes

U.S.

This role requires occasional international and domestic travel.

Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

Board-level validation focuses on verifying electronic systems at the hardware level across the product lifecycle.

Validation engineers work with digital, mixed-signal, and high-speed interfaces while using laboratory instruments and test automation.

Root-cause analysis and corrective action execution involve close collaboration with design, firmware, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.