Firmware Verification Engineer - Contractor

As a Firmware Verification Engineer - Contractor at Tenstorrent, you will be defining verification strategies, developing comprehensive test plans, and conducting post-silicon validation. Your role will also involve collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, supporting customer inquiries, and conducting technical design and code reviews, all aimed at ensuring the high performance of our firmware features.

To be eligible for the Firmware Verification Engineer - Contractor position at Tenstorrent, you should have a BS in Electrical Engineering with at least 9 years of experience or an MS with 7 years. Important requirements include prior firmware verification experience, familiarity with programming languages like C, C++, and Python, as well as knowledge of verification methods such as directed random testing and coverage analysis.

As a Firmware Verification Engineer - Contractor at Tenstorrent, familiarity with programming languages is essential. You should be well-versed in C, C++, and Python, as these languages are commonly used in firmware development and testing processes, helping you effectively validate our RISC-V CPU's firmware features and functionalities.

At Tenstorrent, as a Firmware Verification Engineer - Contractor, excellent written and verbal communication skills are crucial, along with strong organizational abilities to manage multiple tasks under pressure. Collaboration skills will also be highly valued since you will be working closely with various teams and mentoring junior engineers in complex firmware projects.

Compensation for a Firmware Verification Engineer - Contractor at Tenstorrent is highly competitive, with ranges from $100k to $500k based on experience, skills, education, location, and other factors. The package includes both base and variable compensation, along with benefits that highlight our commitment to employee wellbeing.

When answering this question, highlight your previous roles in firmware verification, focusing on specific methods you’ve implemented, the types of platforms you’ve worked with, and your successes or learnings. Mention any hands-on experience you have with post-silicon validation or debugging as it relates to firmware.

In your response, outline the steps you take when developing a test plan, such as defining objectives, identifying key features, and incorporating cross-feature validation. Discuss how you analyze the design maturity and cost-benefit aspects to ensure comprehensive coverage.

Share specific debugging strategies that you find effective, whether it be using logs, performing code reviews, or integrating automated tests. Be sure to emphasize your problem-solving capabilities and provide examples of how these methods have helped debug previous projects.

Discuss your time management skills and how you prioritize tasks effectively under pressure. Provide examples of previous experiences where you successfully met deadlines while maintaining quality in your work, demonstrating your capability to adapt and optimize processes.

Detail your experience with industry-standard verification tools or software applications you have utilized. Mention how they helped you conduct verification processes and what specific functionalities you found most beneficial.

Share insights on your collaborative experiences, detailing how you engage with teams such as hardware design and system engineering. Highlight your communication strategies and include examples of successful cross-disciplinary initiatives you have undertaken.

Explain your knowledge of RTOS and how it applies to firmware verification. Discuss instances where you’ve interacted with RTOS in projects and how it impacted your approach to verification strategies.

Talk about your familiarity with varied verification methodologies, including directed random testing and coverage analysis. Specify how you’ve implemented these methods in your previous projects and the impact they had on project success.

Describe your mentoring style, focusing on how you would provide guidance on best practices in firmware verification, offer constructive feedback, and create learning opportunities through project involvement.

Share your career aspirations in firmware verification, aligning them with Tenstorrent's vision. Discuss your eagerness to advance in the field and how you wish to contribute to innovative projects while continuously enhancing your technical skills.