Strong fit for experienced design verification engineers who lead complex verification efforts and shape methodology, with deep expertise in SystemVerilog and AI infrastructure.
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Original posting from SambaNova
SambaNova is a leader in next-generation AI infrastructure, delivering a full-stack inference platform for customers worldwide. At the core of SambaNova's technology is the RDU (Reconfigurable Dataflow Unit) — a chip built on a dataflow architecture rather than the traditional GPU model. Its decode performance is especially strong for agentic workloads like multi-turn agents, code generation, and long-running applications. RDUs are packaged into SambaRack, rack-scale hardware that lets customers deploy state-of-the-art models with better performance, greater energy efficiency, and faster time to value.
Job Overview
SambaNova Systems is looking for a Principal Design Verification Engineer to own verification for a major subsystem of our next-generation RDU — the reconfigurable dataflow silicon behind our machine learning and AI systems.
This is a senior individual-contributor role with real ownership. You will own the test plan, testbench architecture, coverage model, formal verification and sign-off criteria for your area, and you will be the person the team looks to when the hardest failures need root-causing. You will also shape methodology beyond your own subsystem: the infrastructure, reuse patterns, and verification practices the rest of the team builds on.
You will work alongside principal engineers who have built and evolved this verification environment across several generations of silicon, and with design, architecture, compiler, and runtime teams to make sure the chip is verified against real ML workloads.
Roles and Responsibilities
Define and own the verification execution plan end to end for a major subsystem of the RDU — test plan, testbench architecture, coverage model, formal verification, and sign-off criteria
Serve as the technical authority for verification of your subsystem: review and arbitrate testbench design decisions, and lead debug on the hardest failures
Verify functional and performance behavior
Build the coverage model for your area, set the closure bar, and drive it to closure ahead of tape-out
Own regression health and failure triage for your area — drive root cause, not just reproduction
Develop testbench components, agents, checkers, and stimulus at block, full-chip, system, and gate level
Advance DV methodology beyond your own area — reusable infrastructure, verification IP integration, and AI-assisted verification workflows
Contribute to emulation and FPGA prototyping, and support silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug in the lab
Set the technical bar through design and DV reviews, and mentor engineers to raise the level of the team's verification practice
Minimum Qualifications
BS or MS in EE, CS, or CE with 7+ years (or equivalent) of industry experience in ASIC design verification
Deep hands-on expertise in SystemVerilog and SVA with a standard methodology (UVM, OVM, or VMM), plus scripting in Python and C/C++
Full-cycle DV ownership from test plan through tape-out on at least one complex ASIC or major subsystem, including owning a coverage model to closure
Experience verifying digital logic in a CPU, GPU, SoC, or comparably complex ASIC
Track record of debugging hard, intermittent, or low-reproducibility pre-silicon failures to root cause
Demonstrated technical leadership without formal authority — setting direction in reviews, arbitrating testbench decisions, and mentoring engineers
Working knowledge of modern computer architecture and of machine learning accelerators or SoCs
Preferred Qualifications
MS or PhD in EE, CS, or CE with 10+ years of experience in ASIC design verification
Depth in high-speed I/O verification — protocol-level verification of PCIe or Ethernet, and memory subsystems such as HBM or DDR
Performance verification methodology — building performance benches and analyzing results, not only functional correctness
Formal verification and assertion-based methods
Experience evaluating, integrating, and validating third-party verification IP
Gate-level simulation and debug
Emulation and FPGA prototyping platforms
Post-silicon lab bring-up and functional validation, debugging first-silicon issues to root cause
Strong understanding of one or more of computation, interconnect, or memory systems
Fluency with Claude or other AI tools applied to verification and flow development
Base Salary Range:
Base Pay Range$180,000—$225,000 USDSubmission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at SambaNova Systems, you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified.
EEO Policy
SambaNova Systems is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Benefits Summary for US-Based, Full-Time Employment Positions
SambaNova offers a competitive total rewards package, including the base salary, plus equity and benefits. We cover 95% premium coverage for employee medical insurance, and 77% premium coverage for dependents and offer a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution. We also offer Dental, Vision, Short/Long term Disability, Basic Life, Voluntary Life, and AD&D insurance plans in addition to Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options like Health Care, Limited Purpose, and Dependent Care. Our library of well-being benefits available to you and your dependents includes a full subscription to Headspace, Gympass+ membership with access to physical gyms, One Medical membership, counseling services with an Employee Assistance Program, and much more.
Source: SambaNova careers