Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Verification Technician

🎯 Role Definition

As a Verification Technician, you are a critical pillar of our product development lifecycle. You will collaborate closely with design and verification engineers to execute complex test plans, debug failures in simulation and emulation environments, and maintain the sophisticated infrastructure required for modern ASIC/FPGA verification. Your meticulous attention to detail and problem-solving skills will directly contribute to the successful tape-out and launch of industry-leading technology.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Electronics Technician
Lab Technician
Recent graduate with relevant projects or internships

Advancement To:

Senior Verification Technician
Verification Engineer
Emulation Engineer
Test Lead

Lateral Moves:

Validation Technician
Design Technician
QA Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute and monitor large-scale regression test suites for complex ASIC/SoC designs using industry-standard simulation and emulation platforms.
Perform initial triage and root-cause analysis of test failures, meticulously documenting findings with waveforms and log files for engineering review.
Debug failing test cases by analyzing waveforms, source code, and design schematics to isolate issues to specific hardware blocks or software interactions.
Maintain and enhance regression test suites, adding new tests and updating existing ones to improve functional coverage and overall efficiency.
Set up, configure, and manage simulation, emulation (e.g., Palladium, Zebu), and FPGA prototyping environments for multiple concurrent projects.
Develop and maintain scripts using Python, Perl, or Bash to automate test execution, data collection, results parsing, and status reporting.
Collaborate with verification engineers to understand test plan requirements and assist in the development of testbench components and stimuli.
Operate and maintain laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and JTAG debuggers for post-silicon validation and bring-up support.
Generate comprehensive daily and weekly status reports on regression health, bug trends, and coverage metrics for project stakeholders.
Manage and track bug reports and failures using defect tracking systems like JIRA, ensuring issues are clearly documented and driven to resolution.
Support the bring-up and validation of new hardware on FPGA platforms, running diagnostic tests and assisting engineers in debugging hardware/software integration issues.
Characterize and profile design performance, power, and area (PPA) by running specific test suites and analyzing the resulting data.
Replicate and validate customer-reported issues or silicon sightings in a pre-silicon environment to accelerate the debug and resolution process.
Manage compute grid resources (e.g., LSF, SGE) to optimize job scheduling and ensure efficient utilization for large-scale verification tasks.
Perform sanity checks and quality assessments on new design check-ins and IP deliveries to prevent regressions and maintain build stability.
Assist in the creation and maintenance of technical documentation, including test procedures, environment setup guides, and debug handbooks.
Validate and test new EDA tools, scripts, and verification methodologies before they are deployed across the broader engineering team.
Run and analyze functional coverage, code coverage, and assertion coverage reports to help identify gaps in the verification plan.
Interface with IT and CAD teams to resolve infrastructure-related issues that impact the verification environment's stability and performance.
Build and compile RTL designs for simulation and emulation platforms, resolving any synthesis or implementation issues that arise.
Provide critical hands-on support for system-level integration testing, connecting various IPs and subsystems within the test environment.
Monitor disk space, license usage, and other critical resources to ensure the smooth operation of the verification infrastructure.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis of regression data to identify performance trends.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of verification methodologies and tool flows.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, software, and validation, to ensure alignment on test plans and debug efforts.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the verification team.
Assist in training and mentoring junior technicians or interns on verification tools and processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Perl, Tcl, or Bash for automation and data parsing.
Experience with HDL languages like Verilog, VHDL, or SystemVerilog for reading and understanding digital designs.
Hands-on experience with industry-standard EDA simulation tools (e.g., Synopsys VCS, Cadence Xcelium, Siemens Questa).
Expertise with waveform viewing and analysis tools (e.g., Verdi, DVE) for in-depth debugging.
Familiarity with hardware emulation or acceleration platforms (e.g., Cadence Palladium, Synopsys Zebu, Mentor Veloce).
Understanding of verification methodologies such as UVM (Universal Verification Methodology) is a strong plus.
Experience with version control systems like Git, Perforce, or SVN for managing code and project files.
Proficiency in a Linux/Unix operating environment and comfort with command-line tools.
Experience with defect tracking and project management systems like JIRA or Bugzilla.
Familiarity with job scheduling and compute farm management (e.g., LSF, SGE).
Solid knowledge of digital logic design principles and computer architecture.

Soft Skills

Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills with a keen, meticulous attention to detail.
Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting bugs and reporting status clearly and effectively.
Ability to work collaboratively and efficiently in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment.
Excellent time management and organizational skills to handle multiple tasks and shifting priorities.
A proactive and self-motivated attitude with a strong desire to learn new technologies and grow professionally.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate's Degree (A.S.) or equivalent technical certification.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's Degree (B.S.).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
A related technical field

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2+ years of experience in a hardware verification, validation, or electronics lab environment.

Preferred:

3-5 years of direct experience in an ASIC/SoC pre-silicon verification role, demonstrating a strong command of the required tools and processes.