Staff Engineer, GPU Post-Silicon Debug & Validation (GPU Si & Emulation)

Position Summary

Samsung, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, is founded on a simple philosophy – the endless pursuit of excellence will create a better world for all. At Samsung Austin Research and Development Center (SARC) and Advanced Computing Lab (ACL), we are building a center of excellence for Intellectual Property (IP) that is applied to high-performance computing devices (mobile, automotive, and other custom market segments) consumed by millions of people around the world. Come build with us!

Role and Responsibilities

As a Staff GPU Post-Silicon Debug and Validation Engineer, you will contribute to the bring-up, debug, and validation of next-generation GPU and system-level IP across silicon and emulation platforms. Your work will directly impact product quality, performance, and time to market for Samsung’s GPU technologies deployed across mobile and adjacent SoCs.

In this individual contributor role, you will work across silicon debug, system validation, and emulation environments to identify, analyze, and resolve complex functional and performance issues. You bring curiosity to collaborate closely with architecture, design, verification, and software teams to drive root cause analysis, improve debug efficiency, and enable robust validation strategies from bring-up through production.

• You perform GPU silicon bring-up, debug, and validation at the SoC and system level, including board-level hardware/software bring-up and functional verification.
• You help develop and execute validation plans, diagnostics, and automated system-level tests to ensure coverage, quality, and reliability of GPU features.
• You debug and identify root cause functional and parametric issues using lab equipment (e.g., logic analyzers, oscilloscopes) and software tools, driving resolution across hardware and software domains.
• You support technical excellence by leveraging emulation platforms to analyze GPU and SoC behaviors, including modifying testbenches, running workloads, and correlating results with silicon, while collaborating cross-functionally with internal teams and external partners to resolve issues and accelerate debug cycles.
• You help advance debug and validation efficiency through scripting, tool development, and use of design-for-debug features to improve automation, coverage, and turnaround time, demonstrating strong ownership on moderate-to-complex initiatives with clear communications.

Skills and Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science/Engineering, or 4+ years of experience with a Master’s Degree, or 2+ years of experience with a Ph.D.
• Hands-on experience with pre-silicon bring-up, post-silicon debug, or validation for GPU, CPU, or complex SoC designs
• Working knowledge of GPU architecture and system-level behaviors
• Experience with hardware debug tools such as Logic Analyzers, Scopes, and related lab equipment
• Proficiency in C/C++/Object Oriented Programming, Python, Shell scripting
• Familiarity with GPU APIs and software stacks (e.g., OpenGL, OpenGL ES, Vulkan)
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills using data-driven approach.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and maintain ownership in a fast-paced, global environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with board-level bring-up and system validation
• Experience using debuggers such as Lauterbach for SoC/software debug
• Familiarity with performance and power analysis techniques
• Exposure to scan chain, array dump, and hardware debug methodologies
• Experience with emulation platforms and waveform/debug analysis
• Familiarity with Linux or Android systems, firmware, or kernel-level debugging
• Exposure to RTL design/verification (e.g., Verilog, UVM)
• Experience driving debug efforts across design, verification, and software teams

Our Team

The Central Engineering organization at SARC/ACL drives technology enablement for GPU and SoC development by delivering critical engineering infrastructure, IP, and services across emulation, compute, silicon validation, and manufacturing readiness. Spanning the full development lifecycle, our teams partner closely with design and manufacturing stakeholders to support early silicon engagement, system bring-up, validation, power and performance analysis, debug, and test coverage—ensuring efficient execution and production readiness at scale.

Within Central Engineering, the Silicon & Emulation team focuses on emulation platforms, silicon validation, and system-level analysis to enable functional correctness and optimized power and performance. You will join a team that operates at the intersection of multiple engineering domains to solve real-world challenges, see the impact of your work, and experience innovation in a collaborative environment that values ownership, continuous learning, and technical excellence.

Total Rewards

At Samsung – SARC/ACL, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $151,000 and $226,600. Your actual base pay will depend on variables that may include your education skills, qualifications, experience, and work location.

Samsung employees have access to benefits including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), onsite lunch, employee purchase program, tuition assistance (after 6 months), paid time off, student loan program, wellness incentives, and many more. In addition, regular full-time employees (salaried or hourly) are eligible for MBO bonus compensation, based on company, division, and individual performance.

Additionally, this role might be eligible to participate in long term incentive plan and relocation.

This is an exempt position, which is not eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

U.S. Export Control

This position requires the ability to access information subject to U.S. export control restrictions.  Applicants must have the ability to access export-controlled information or be eligible to receive a government authorization to access export-controlled information.

Trade Secrets

By submitting an application, you [applicant] agree[s] not to disclose to Samsung, or induce Samsung to use, any confidential or proprietary information (including trade secrets) belonging to any current or previous employer or other person or entity.

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