The posting
Design Verification Lead
Reports To: Head of Engineering
About Us
Powerlattice is a well-funded semiconductor start-up company backed by leading Silicon Valley venture capital firms. We are developing groundbreaking chiplet power delivery technology that will transform how high-performance processors are powered, enabling the next generation of AI and advanced computing.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Design Verification Lead to spearhead verification activities for complex SoC/IP designs, developing scalable SystemVerilog-based verification environments, verification strategies, reusable test infrastructure, and automated regression flows. This position drives functional verification from RTL through gate-level simulation, including coverage closure, assertions, timing verification, and debug. They will collaborate closely with RTL, analog, architecture, and silicon validation teams to identify and resolve design issues.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead verification planning and execution for complex digital and mixed-signal subsystems, including defining verification strategies, test scenarios, coverage goals, and signoff criteria.
- Architect, develop, and maintain SystemVerilog-based verification environments and reusable verification infrastructure.
- Develop directed, constrained-random, regression, and corner-case tests to verify functional requirements and design specifications.
- Develop reusable verification components and protocol-based test infrastructure for I2C/I3C, SPI, JTAG, AMBA, and OBI interfaces.
- Perform and support Clock Domain Crossing (CDC) verification for async and sync clock-domain interfaces.
- Develop and maintain UVM-based infrastructure and RAL models where applicable.
- Develop checkers, scoreboards, reference models, assertions, and functional coverage to provide comprehensive verification of design behavior.
- Perform RTL and gate-level simulation, including SDF-annotated GLS, to identify functional, timing, initialization, reset, and connectivity issues.
- Develop and optimize regression and GLS flows using Xcelium and VCS.
- Analyze functional and code coverage and drive coverage closure by identifying verification gaps and developing targeted tests.
- Debug complex RTL, testbench, simulation, and gate-level failures using waveform and log analysis.
- Work closely with RTL designers, analog designers, architects, and silicon validation teams to reproduce issues, determine root cause, and drive resolution.
- Review specifications and RTL to identify corner cases, interface issues, reset/clocking problems, and potential functional gaps.
- Translate silicon validation findings into simulation-based verification scenarios and regression tests.
- Provide technical leadership to a team of verification engineers. Mentor the team in verification methodologies, tools, and coverage improvements.
Qualifications
This is a Hybrid role requiring 3 days a week onsite at our HQ’s in Vancouver, WA (Greater Portland Area) or Chandler, AZ. While we are primarily seeking candidates in HQ-Vancouver and Chandler, remote flexibility may be considered for exceptional candidates in Silicon Valley, CA.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in digital verification of SoCs with proven ownership of subsystems or full-chip verification.
- Solid Understanding of:
- Digital design fundamentals, FSMs, CDC, RDC, mixed-signal subsystems, and SoC integration.
- Industry-standard protocols including AMBA, I²C, I3C, SPI, JTAG, and OBI.
- Strong Expertise in:
- Verilog, SystemVerilog, UVM and class-based verification methodologies.
- Constrained-random, coverage-driven verification, regression automation, and verification signoff.
- SystemVerilog Assertions (SVA), formal verification techniques.
- Python, Perl, and UNIX/Linux shell scripting for automation.
- Hands-on experience developing testbenches, drivers, monitors, scoreboards, assertions, and reusable verification IP.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to debug complex issues, communicate clearly, mentor engineers, lead technical initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Experience with industry-standard EDA tools (Synopsys, Cadence)
Preferred Qualifications
- Working knowledge of PMIC architectures and power management principles.
- Experience with formal verification techniques
Compensation & Benefits
Anticipated annual base salary for Member of Technical Staff: $160k - $190k
- Stock option grant
- Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, and 401(k)
