The Role
Lead verification for a high-performance RISC-V SoC, including CPU cores, network-on-chip, and peripheral IP. Responsibilities include developing verification plans, unit- and system-level testbenches, ISA compliance testing, debugging, coverage improvement, simulation integration, performance analysis, and automation infrastructure. The role also mentors and grows an in-house verification team.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Us:
At InspireSemi, we're not just building chips; we're revolutionizing high-performance computing. Our groundbreaking architecture packs thousands of 64-bit CPU cores onto a single chip, all seamlessly connected. We're driven by a mission to make high performance computing more accessible, energy-efficient, and easier for developers to harness. Ready to make a real impact? Join our passionate team!
Why Join InspireSemi?
- Be a Pioneer: Get in on the ground floor of a hypergrowth startup! You'll be part of a small, dynamic team shaping the future of computing.
- Make an Impact: Your work will directly contribute to disruptive technology.
- Grow With Us: Seize significant growth and development opportunities, including the chance to build a team.
- Rewarding Compensation: We offer a competitive salary, bonus potential, and meaningful equity.
- Flexibility: Benefit from a hybrid work model (with potential for fully remote for exceptional candidates) and flexible time off.
The Opportunity:
We are looking for a seasoned Lead SoC Verification Engineer to own the complete verification of our innovative Supercomputer cluster-on-a-chip. This critical role encompasses our RISC-V cores, complex network-on-chip, and 3rd-party peripheral IP integrations. You will have significant discretion to choose the most efficient methods and tools to ensure our designs are robust and performant. This is a leadership position where you'll have the opportunity to build out our in-house verification dream team.
What You'll Do:
- Craft and execute comprehensive verification plans from the ground up.
- Develop sophisticated unit-level and system-level testbenches.
- Implement and ensure RISC-V ISA compliance testing.
- Conduct preliminary debugging of discovered issues, working closely with the design team.
- Analyze and drive enhancements for functional and code coverage.
- Integrate simulations with real user interfaces, stimulus generators, and checkers.
- Identify performance bottlenecks and opportunities for optimization through verification.
- Continuously innovate and improve our test infrastructure and automation frameworks.
- Manage, mentor, and grow a team of verification engineers.
What You Bring:
- A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering.
- 7+ years of hands-on experience in SoC verification.
- A deep understanding of SystemVerilog, UVM, and simulation tools (Xcelium preferred).
- Proven experience interfacing simulations to other software and hardware via DPI/VPI.
- Proficiency with version control (git/Bitbucket) and project tracking (Jira, Confluence).
- Strong knowledge of common bus protocols (AXI, AHB, PCIe, DDR4/5, etc.).
- Solid familiarity with CPU architecture and digital design concepts.
- Excellent scripting and programming skills (Python, C/C++, TCL).
- Outstanding communication and collaboration abilities.
Bonus Points:
- Experience with formal verification techniques (e.g., Conformal LEC).
- Hands-on experience with emulation systems (like Zebu or Palladium) or FPGA prototyping.
If you're excited about pushing the boundaries of computing and working on truly innovative technology in a rewarding environment, we'd love to hear from you!
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
- 7+ years of hands-on SoC verification experience
- Deep understanding of SystemVerilog and UVM
- Experience with simulation tools, preferably Xcelium
- Experience interfacing simulations with software and hardware through DPI and VPI
- Proficiency with Git or Bitbucket
- Experience with Jira and Confluence
- Knowledge of AXI, AHB, PCIe, DDR4/5, or comparable bus protocols
- Familiarity with CPU architecture and digital design concepts
- Programming and scripting skills in Python, C/C++, and TCL
- Experience with formal verification techniques such as Conformal LEC
- Experience with emulation systems such as Zebu or Palladium
- Experience with FPGA prototyping
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The Company
What We Do
InspireSemi provides revolutionary high-performance, energy-efficient accelerated computing solutions for High-Performance Computing (HPC), AI, graph analytics, and other compute-intensive workloads. The Thunderbird “supercomputer-cluster-on-a-chip” is a disruptive, next-generation datacenter accelerator designed to address multiple underserved and diversified industries, including financial services, computer-aided engineering, energy, climate modeling, cybersecurity, and life sciences & drug discovery. Based on the open standard RISC-V instruction set architecture, InspireSemi’s solutions set new standards of performance, energy efficiency, and ease of programming. The Company is headquartered in Austin, TX and led by an accomplished team with a proven track record. It is leveraging an efficient, scalable fabless operating model with outsourced manufacturing partners (e.g.- TSMC, ASE). Leading industrial companies, national labs, and computer OEMs value our technology, innovative North America design team, and world-class supply chain partners.
