Lab and Characterization System Engineer, FPGA, $150K+ Salary

The company is a privately held fabless corporation based in Santa Clara, California and offers high-performance FPGA solutions. Our history is one of pushing the boundaries in the high-performance FPGA market. Offerings include programmable FPGA fabrics, discrete high-performance and high-density FPGAs with hardwired system-level blocks, data center and HPC hardware accelerator boards, and best-in-class EDA software supporting all company products.

Job Description/Responsibilities

• Define, lead, and execute device characterization activities for high speed serial and memory interfaces, including the definition and execution of tests with modern test equipment including TDRs, VNAs, sampling and real-time oscilloscopes, etc.
• Setup and manage the Systems & Hardware Engineering lab, including procuring lab equipment to enable FPGA device bring-up and characterization, with the immediate focus being the newest FPGA family.
• Implement lab automation to support bring-up and characterization, including the scripting of test equipment to automate test and characterization tasks, including contributing to the company’s internal automated test platforms.
• Develop and support an automated hardware regression platform for all devices, including a mix of hardware and software development.
• Conduct demonstrations of the company technology for customers and partners.
• Support applications teams and third-party vendors in providing guidance on the company device high-speed interfaces and memory configuration and use.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with device bring-up, including PCI Express, DDR, and Ethernet interfaces.
• Experience with the characterization of SerDes and high-speed serial interfaces.
• Experience with electronic test equipment, such as Oscilloscopes, BERTs, TDRs, etc.
• Experience with software such as TCL, Python, C, or C++ for test equipment control. Experience with SQL databases is a plus.
• Ideally has a working knowledge of signal and power integrity principles, and has hands-on experience with S-parameters, transmission lines, and impedance profiles.
• Ideally has experience developing FPGA logic and platforms design for protocol bring-up and test.
• Good communication skills and ability to multi-task.

Education and Experience

• At least 5 years’ experience, with a focus on device bring-up, characterization, and debug.
• Experience with lab test equipment, specifically those needed for protocol bring-up: oscilloscopes, function generators, logic analyzers, BERTs, back planes, etc.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in EE, CE or equivalent work experience.