Software Engineer - FPGA-Accelerated RTL Simulation

Job description

About SiFive As the pioneers who introduced RISC-V to the world, SiFive is transforming the future of compute by bringing the limitless potential of RISC-V to the highest performance and most data-intensive applications in the world. SiFive’s unrivaled compute platforms are continuing to enable leading technology companies around the world to innovate, optimize and deliver the most advanced solutions of tomorrow across every market segment of chip design, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, automotive, data center, mobile, and consumer. With SiFive, the future of RISC-V has no limits. At SiFive, we are always excited to connect with talented individuals, who are just as passionate about driving innovation and changing the world as we are. Our constant innovation and ongoing success is down to our amazing teams of incredibly talented people, who collaborate and support each other to come up with truly groundbreaking ideas and solutions. Solutions that will have a huge impact on people's lives; making the world a better place, one processor at a time. Are you ready? To learn more about SiFive’s phenomenal success and to see why we have won the GSA’s prestigious Most Respected Private Company Award (for the fourth time!), check out our website and Glassdoor pages. Job Description: The Role SiFive is seeking a Senior Staff Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SWQA) to join our team in Hsinchu, Taiwan. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role for an experienced engineer who can serve as a technical lead within SWQA. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in software test automation, RISC-V embedded software validation, and cross-functional execution. In this role, you will own key validation areas for SiFive hardware products, with a strong focus on RISC-V embedded software validation in pre-silicon environments such as QEMU, FPGA, and RTL simulators. You will drive test strategy, test configuration management, failure triage, and root cause analysis across software, hardware, and infrastructure boundaries. You will also help improve execution quality, release readiness, and overall team effectiveness. Responsibilities Lead the planning and execution of SWQA validation initiatives, overseeing a small team to deliver high-quality RISC-V embedded software validation on pre-silicon platforms (QEMU, FPGA, RTL). Define and guide the team's technical roadmap, selecting tools and methodologies to enhance validation efficiency and long-term quality. Define and own comprehensive test strategies and quality plans aligned with product and release goals Partner with software, hardware, and program teams to align priorities, schedules, and test readiness Drive technical excellence by mentoring engineers and establishing best-in-class automation/validation standards Own test configuration management to ensure validation coverage is maintainable, traceable, and scalable Drive root cause analysis of complex failures across software, hardware, and infrastructure layers Triage quality issues, clarify ownership, and drive timely follow-up and resolution Define and improve quality metrics such as coverage, failure signal quality, and release readiness Requirements Proven experience leading complex validation efforts across cross-functional teams, with the ability to guide and drive execution Strong technical leadership, communication, and coordination skills, with a proven ability to manage cross-functional stakeholders, resolve technical conflicts, and align complex dependencies across multiple teams. 8+ years of experience in software test automation, software quality assurance, embedded systems validation, or related fields Hands-on experience using pre-silicon environments such as QEMU, FPGA, or RTL simulators Strong hands-on experience with Python-based test automation frameworks such as PyTest or Robot Framework Proficiency in version control (Git), building/managing Jenkins pipelines for automated testing, and experience with project tracking and collaboration tools such as Jira. Strong expertise in C/C++ debugging and validating embedded software stacks, including toolchains, Linux, and bare-metal systems. Deep working knowledge of Linux development and debugging environments Preferred Qualifications Proven ability to provide technical guidance on complex debugging and promoting best practices in validation code quality. Deep knowledge of RISC-V software ecosystems and specific validation challenges for RISC-V architectures Experience with collaboration tools (e.g., GitHub) and data visualization tools (e.g., Grafana). Proficiency in managing build systems and system integration workflows (e.g., Make, CMake, Yocto) Additional Information: This position requires a successful background and reference checks and satisfactory proof of your right to work in: Taiwan Any offer of employment for this position is also contingent on the Company verifying that you are a authorized for access to export-controlled technology under applicable export control laws or, if you are not already authorized, our ability to successfully obtain any necessary export license(s) or other approvals. SiFive is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.