PCIe Characterization Engineer | On-site Opportunity | Palo Alto, CA | Fastwater Staffing

- %BREADCRUMB_JOB_OPENINGS% - PCIe Characterization Engineer | On-site Opportunity | Palo Alto, CA | Fastwater Staffing

- %BUTTON_APPLY_TO_POSITION% - %BUTTON_APPLY_USING_INDEED% - %BUTTON_APPLY_USING_LINKED_IN%

📍 Location: Palo Alto, CA 📄 Employment Type: Contract 🏢 Work Arrangement: On-site 🚀 Start Date: TBD 💰 Compensation: TBD — based on skills and experience

Important Screening Requirements

- 5+ years of experience in post-silicon characterization, high-speed I/O (HSIO) validation, or memory electrical validation. - Hands-on experience characterizing high-speed SerDes PHYs, particularly PCIe. - Experience measuring eye diagrams, jitter, bit error rate (BER), and S-parameters. - Proficiency with high-speed oscilloscopes, bit error rate testers (BERT), and VNA/TDR equipment. - Ability to read and interpret schematics and PCB layouts. - Experience debugging electrical issues directly at the probe point. - Python scripting experience for laboratory test automation. - Background in semiconductor, silicon, or systems companies, including SoC, GPU, networking, storage, or automotive compute. - Must be willing to work on-site in Palo Alto, CA.

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on PCIe Characterization Engineer to perform post-silicon electrical characterization and validation of high-speed SerDes physical-layer interfaces in a laboratory environment.

The role focuses on conducting high-speed electrical measurements, analyzing signal integrity, and validating silicon performance. You will independently operate laboratory equipment, troubleshoot signal-level issues, interpret hardware schematics and PCB layouts, and automate characterization workflows using Python.

The successful candidate will have direct experience with high-speed interface characterization and the practical skills needed to investigate electrical performance issues at the measurement and probe points.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an experienced post-silicon characterization or HSIO validation engineer with strong hands-on laboratory skills and practical knowledge of high-speed electrical measurements.

The ideal candidate can independently perform eye, jitter, BER, and S-parameter measurements; operate high-speed test equipment; interpret schematics and layouts; and troubleshoot signal integrity issues directly in the lab.

Strong candidates will combine experience with PCIe and SerDes interfaces, high-speed measurement instrumentation, electrical debugging, and Python-based lab automation.

Key Responsibilities

Post-Silicon Characterization & Validation

- Perform post-silicon electrical characterization of high-speed SerDes PHYs, including:

- PCIe - Ethernet - UFS - LPDDR5 - Support high-speed interface validation and investigate electrical performance issues. - Analyze characterization results to assess high-speed interface performance. - Identify and troubleshoot signal-level issues during testing.

High-Speed Electrical Measurements

- Conduct eye diagram, jitter, bit error rate (BER), and S-parameter measurements. - Independently operate laboratory measurement equipment, including:

- High-speed oscilloscopes - Bit error rate testers (BERT) - Vector network analyzers (VNA) - Time-domain reflectometry (TDR) equipment - Analyze measurement data to evaluate electrical performance and signal integrity. - Document test configurations, measurement results, and characterization findings.

Schematic Analysis & Electrical Debugging

- Read and interpret electrical schematics and PCB layouts to support characterization activities. - Troubleshoot signal integrity and electrical issues directly at probe points. - Investigate measurement anomalies and high-speed interface performance problems. - Apply practical electrical measurement and debugging techniques to identify potential issues.

Python Lab Automation

- Develop and maintain Python scripts to automate laboratory measurements and characterization workflows. - Support repeatable and efficient execution of electrical tests. - Improve laboratory testing efficiency through reusable automation scripts. - Assist with measurement data collection, analysis, and documentation.

Cross-Functional Validation Support

- Support high-speed interface validation activities across relevant silicon and systems platforms. - Collaborate with engineering teams to investigate electrical performance issues. - Communicate measurement findings, debugging results, and characterization progress. - Maintain clear technical documentation of test procedures, configurations, and results.

Required Qualifications

- 5+ years of experience in post-silicon characterization, HSIO validation, or memory electrical validation. - Experience working at a semiconductor, silicon, or systems company in areas such as SoC, GPU, networking, storage, or automotive compute. - Hands-on experience with high-speed SerDes PHY characterization. - Practical experience measuring eye diagrams, jitter, BER, and S-parameters. - Proficiency using high-speed oscilloscopes, BERT, and VNA/TDR equipment. - Experience reading and interpreting schematics and PCB layouts. - Strong laboratory debugging and electrical measurement skills. - Python scripting experience for test and measurement automation. - Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities. - Willingness to work on-site in Palo Alto, CA.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with PCIe electrical characterization and validation. - Exposure to Ethernet, UFS, or LPDDR5 interfaces. - Experience with high-speed signal integrity measurements and analysis. - Background in silicon validation for SoC, GPU, networking, storage, or automotive-compute products. - Experience developing reusable automation scripts and improving laboratory test efficiency.

- %BUTTON_APPLY_TO_POSITION% - %BUTTON_APPLY_USING_INDEED% - %BUTTON_APPLY_USING_LINKED_IN%