Principal Design Verification Engineer

About the role

SpaceX is on a mission to enable humanity to become a multi-planetary species, and as part of this vision, the company is expanding its Starlink satellite network. The Principal Design Verification Engineer will play a crucial role within the silicon engineering team, focusing on the development of custom ASICs that facilitate global satellite and ground-based connectivity. This position demands a blend of technical expertise and innovative thinking to ensure the successful verification of complex digital designs.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Conduct verification of digital ASIC and FPGA designs at both the system and block levels to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
• Oversee the entire verification lifecycle, which includes the creation of detailed test plans and the execution of key project milestones.
• Engage in pre-silicon verification processes, initial chip bring-up activities, and post-silicon validation to confirm design integrity.
• Execute hands-on verification tasks that validate the functionality of intricate digital designs, ensuring they meet specified requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve design issues throughout the verification process.
• Document verification processes and results comprehensively to maintain a clear record of findings and improvements.
• Utilize advanced verification methodologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the verification process.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide guidance on best practices in design verification and test bench development.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering is essential.
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in design verification and test bench development is required.
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to meet project deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to troubleshoot complex design issues effectively.
• Proven experience in digital design verification, including familiarity with ASIC and FPGA technologies.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to facilitate collaboration with team members and stakeholders.

Nice to have

• An advanced degree in electrical or computer engineering is preferred.
• Familiarity with verification methodologies such as UVM, OVM, or VMM would be advantageous.
• A solid background in object-oriented programming is a plus.
• Experience with constrained random verification techniques and coverage modeling is desirable.
• Proficiency in developing test plans and analyzing results to drive improvements in design verification processes.
• Experience with RTL design, post-silicon validation, and chip bring-up processes is beneficial.
• Ability to write automation scripts using Python to streamline verification tasks.
• Flexibility to adapt to evolving project requirements in a dynamic work environment.

Skills & tools

• Expertise in digital ASIC and FPGA verification methodologies.
• Proficient in test bench development and implementation.
• Strong programming skills in Python for automation and scripting purposes.
• Familiarity with verification methodologies such as UVM, OVM, and VMM.
• Knowledge of RTL design principles and practices.
• Competence in object-oriented programming concepts and applications.

Practical notes

The salary for this position ranges from $210,000 to $355,000 annually. In addition to a competitive salary, the compensation package includes eligibility for stock options, company stock, long-term cash awards, and discretionary bonuses. Employees enjoy comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan, life and disability insurance, paid parental leave, and participation in an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The role offers three weeks of paid vacation, over ten paid holidays, and five days of sick leave annually. This position is subject to ITAR regulations, which means candidates must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or protected individuals under U.S. export control laws.

About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.