Post Silicon Validation Director

Job description

**Job Requirements** **Post-Silicon Validation Architect (Display Team)** **Role Overview** The Post-Silicon Validation Architect defines the validation strategy, test plans, and automation frameworks to bring up and qualify next-generation display chips. This role bridges hardware design, FPGA prototyping, and production software to ensure the silicon meets all functional, performance, and reliability targets before mass production. **Key Responsibilities** - **Architecture & Strategy**: Define the post-silicon validation architecture, methodologies, and test strategies for display chipsets. - **Bring-up & Debug**: Lead the bring-up of silicon, reference boards, and FPGA prototypes, isolating complex hardware and software defects. - **Test Development**: Create comprehensive test plans covering display protocols, frame buffer management, pixel pipelines, and image processing algorithms. - **Automation**: Design and scale automated test frameworks to interface with high-speed validation equipment. - **Cross-functional Collaboration**: Partner with Design, Pre-Silicon Verification (SV/UVM), Emulation, and Firmware teams to root-cause chip bugs. **Required Technical Skills** **Display, Video, & Pixel Processing** - **DSI2 & MIPI**: Deep knowledge of MIPI DSI-2 physical and protocol layers for high-speed mobile and automotive displays. - **Pixel Formats & Formats**: Mastery of raw pixel data formats, including **PACKED YUV444** and **RGB data** streams. - **Bit Depth & Color**: Expertise in validating variable **bit depths** (e.g., 8-bit, 10-bit, 12-bit per channel) and their impact on color fidelity. [1] - **Scaling & Processing**: Strong understanding of image processing pipelines, specifically **upscale and downscale** filtering engines. - **Display Technologies**: Deep knowledge of display panels, **display drivers**, demura (mura correction) algorithms, and color management systems. **Hardware Validation & Equipment** - **Introspect Technology**: Hands-on experience using Introspect SV series systems (or similar MIPI protocol analyzers/exercisers) for protocol conformance and physical layer testing. - **FPGA Prototyping & Emulation**: Experience using FPGA platforms (Xilinx/AMD, Intel, or Zebu environments) for pre-silicon development and early post-silicon software alignment. - **Lab Instrumentation**: Mastery of high-speed oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers, and bit error rate testers (BERT). **Silicon Characterization & Verification Methodologies** - **Bitstream Verification**: Experience developing and executing **bitstream verification** methodologies to validate code compliance and pipeline robustness. - **SV/UVM Understanding**: Strong understanding of SystemVerilog and **UVM (Universal Verification Methodology)** to effectively bridge pre-silicon testbenches with post-silicon test plans. - **PVT Testing**: Experience characterizing silicon performance across Process, Voltage, and Temperature corners. - **Frame Buffer**: Expertise in validating memory interfaces, frame buffer bandwidth, display refresh rates, and power-saving modes. - **Functionality**: Full-stack functional validation of chip configuration, register maps, interrupts, and power management states. **Software, OS, & Automation** - **Python Programming**: Advanced **Python programming** skills for building, scaling, and maintaining automated test scripts, with tools and frameworks. - **Low-Level Software**: Experience writing and debugging firmware in **baremetal** environments and **RTOS** platforms. - **OS Ecosystems**: Familiarity with display subsystem pipelines within host operating systems, specifically **Android** (SurfaceFlinger/HWC) and **Linux** (DRM/KMS drivers). - Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to details - Good software debugging skills using tools like gdb, Valgrind etc. - Experience in Continuous Integration tools like SVN, Git, Jira etc. **Soft Skills:** - Strong communication skills for clearly communicating ideas and concepts to team/customer **Qualifications** - **Education**: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field. - **Experience**: 8+ years of experience in post-silicon validation, specifically within display, multimedia, or high-speed SoC environments.