Design Verification Engineer (Silicon Engineering) - job 1 of 3

As a Design Verification Engineer at SpaceX, your key responsibilities will include executing digital ASIC and FPGA verification at both block and system levels. You’ll be tasked with writing and reviewing test plans, developing test harnesses, and executing test plans, running regressions, and ensuring code and functional coverage closure. Your expertise will allow you to automate test case generation using Python and MATLAB, further enhancing the verification processes. You'll also contribute to pre-silicon verification, chip bring-up, and post-silicon validation.

To qualify as a Design Verification Engineer at SpaceX, a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or computer engineering is essential. Additionally, a minimum of two years of experience in design verification and test bench development is required. Preferred candidates will possess an advanced degree, experience with verification methodologies like UVM, and strong programming skills in object-oriented programming, along with experience in constrained random verification.

Ideal candidates for the Design Verification Engineer role at SpaceX will have advanced skills such as proficiency in verification methodologies like UVM and a strong grasp of programming in Python for automation tasks. Knowing how to develop comprehensive test plans, analyze results, and implement coverage models are crucial for success in this role. Experience in RTL design, chip bring-up, and post-silicon validation will also provide a competitive advantage.

Absolutely! At SpaceX, we value hands-on experience significantly for our Design Verification Engineers. Being a self-starter who can independently execute comprehensive steps to verify complex digital designs not only enhances your value to our team but also ensures that you can contribute effectively to our projects, especially as we develop cutting-edge technology for our Starlink network.

The work environment for a Design Verification Engineer at SpaceX is dynamic and collaborative. You'll find yourself working alongside a team of highly skilled professionals from various disciplines, promoting a culture of innovation and creativity. Given the fast-paced nature of our projects, flexibility and adaptability to changing needs and requirements are vital for success.

When responding to this question, emphasize specific projects you’ve worked on that involved digital design verification. Highlight your familiarity with system-level verification, the use of UVM, and any methodologies or tools you’ve applied. Discuss how you've successfully identified and resolved issues during the verification process.

Be sure to mention programming languages you excel in, such as Python and SystemVerilog. Provide examples of how you've implemented these languages to develop test benches or automate testing processes in past projects, demonstrating your technical competence and problem-solving skills.

Outline your step-by-step approach to creating a test plan. Discuss how you gather requirements, identify key functionalities to verify, and outline strategies for test coverage. Mention any tools you prefer for managing and documenting your test plans.

Focus on the vital role that coverage plays in ensuring that all aspects of the design have been thoroughly tested. Discuss how achieving high coverage metrics leads to increased confidence in the design's functionality and reliability, ultimately contributing to lower risks during production.

Discuss specific challenges such as tight deadlines, complex designs, or unexpected bugs you encountered during a project. Explain the strategies you employed to tackle these issues, emphasizing your problem-solving skills and your collaboration with team members.

In your response, provide examples of past projects where you were involved in pre-silicon verification. Highlight the methodologies you used, the tools applied, and how your contributions helped identify critical design flaws before silicon fabrication.

Talk about your familiarity and experience with constrained random verification processes. Share examples of projects where you've utilized this method, outlining the advantages it brings in uncovering corner cases and ensuring extensive testing.

Emphasize the importance of automation in improving efficiency and reliability in the testing process. Discuss any tools you've created or used to automate test cases, and how this has positively impacted your workflow and reduced manual effort.

Mention the various resources you use to stay informed, such as industry publications, online courses, and professional networks. Highlight your proactive approach to learning new tools or methodologies that can enhance your verification skills.

In your response, connect your passion for technology and innovation with SpaceX's mission. Share how you align with the company’s vision and how you see your skills contributing to the groundbreaking work being done at SpaceX, especially within the Starlink initiative.