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 Senior or Staff Design Verification Engineer 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)