Validation Engineer 1 (Hardware/Debug Engineer)

Job Title: Validation Engineer 1

Location: Austin, TX

Duration: 06 Months of contract

Job Description

Debug Engineer – Platform Validation & System Debug

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Debug Engineer to join our platform validation and bring-up team. In this role, you will work at the intersection of hardware, firmware, BIOS, operating systems, and silicon to identify, isolate, and resolve complex system issues throughout the product lifecycle.

This position is ideal for engineers who enjoy hands-on lab work, deep technical investigation, and developing automation solutions that improve debug efficiency. You will collaborate with architecture, design, firmware, software, validation, and product teams to help deliver high-quality products and exceptional customer experiences.

What You'll Do

• Drive system bring-up, validation, and debug activities from pre-silicon development through post-silicon product validation.

• Investigate and resolve complex hardware, firmware, BIOS, operating system, and platform-level issues.

• Perform root-cause analysis using lab equipment such as:

• Oscilloscopes

• Logic analyzers

• JTAG and hardware debug tools

• Develop and maintain debug automation, validation frameworks, and troubleshooting utilities using scripting and programming languages.

• Analyze logs, traces, telemetry, and hardware captures to identify failure mechanisms and drive corrective actions.

• Partner closely with Design, Firmware, BIOS, Software, Validation, and Tools teams to resolve technical challenges.

• Lead cross-functional technical investigations and communicate findings to engineering and leadership teams.

• Document debug procedures, findings, and best practices to strengthen organizational knowledge.

• Support customer enablement and field issue resolution activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

• Strong understanding of computer architecture, SoC architecture, and hardware/software interactions.

• Hands-on experience with system validation, platform bring-up, and hardware debug methodologies.

• Experience using lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power measurement tools, and debuggers.

• Ability to read and interpret board schematics, PCB layouts, and hardware design documentation.

• Strong knowledge of BIOS, firmware, device drivers, and Windows/Linux operating systems.

• Understanding of platform boot flows, initialization sequences, and power management concepts.

• Experience debugging issues across hardware, firmware, BIOS, driver, and OS layers.

• Strong scripting and programming skills in one or more of the following:

• Python

• C/C++

• PowerShell

• Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in system validation, silicon validation, platform debug, or semiconductor product development.
• Experience with FPGA or pre-silicon emulation platforms.
• Familiarity with industry-standard interfaces and technologies such as PCIe, USB, I2C, SPI, SATA, Ethernet, and memory subsystems.
• Experience developing automation frameworks, debug tools, and data analysis solutions.
• Knowledge of hardware description languages such as Verilog or SystemVerilog.
• Experience with server, client, embedded, or datacenter platform bring-up.
• Demonstrated ability to independently drive technical investigations from problem identification through resolution.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
• Self-motivated team player with a passion for learning and technical innovation.