The posting
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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:
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.
To all recruitment agencies: Microchip Technology Inc. does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our recruiting team or other Microchip employees. Microchip is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
