Pre-Silicon Diagnostics Engineer

Job Family Definition

HPE is seeking a Pre-Silicon Diagnostics Engineer to support the validation of HPE Slingshot™ ASIC products. HPE Slingshot is a high-performance networking interconnect for HPC and AI clusters, delivering industry-leading bandwidth, low latency, and scalability for demanding workloads. Slingshot implements Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) capabilities and is aligned with the Ultra Ethernet standard, enabling next-generation Ethernet semantics optimized for HPC and AI at scale.

This position is a self-sufficient individual contributor responsible for designing and developing software-driven validation solutions for HPE Slingshot ASICs. The role focuses primarily on emulator-based validation before silicon is available, then running those same tests on hardware when silicon arrives. The engineer develops test infrastructure, authors automated test content, debugs complex hardware and software interactions, and works closely with architecture, design, firmware, and software teams to validate functionality across multiple product generations.

Engineers with backgrounds in diagnostics, design verification, firmware development, embedded software, low-level systems programming, or emulator-based validation are particularly well suited for this role.

Job Level Definition

Typically, 4-8 years of experience in diagnostics, design verification, firmware development, embedded software, or related engineering roles involving low-level hardware interaction.

Works independently to develop solutions to complex technical problems. Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to drive technical investigations, improve validation methodologies, and deliver high-quality validation coverage for new products and features.

Contributes to technical direction within assigned areas and may provide guidance to less experienced engineers.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and maintain chip-level validation tests for HPE Slingshot NIC and switch ASICs, primarily using emulator-based environments.

• Design and implement scalable test infrastructure and automated test frameworks.

• Develop software-driven test content that validates both HPE Slingshot-specific functionality and industry-standard networking protocols.

• Debug functional, performance, and reliability issues uncovered during validation, working closely with design, architecture, firmware, and software teams.

• Contribute to validation planning by identifying coverage gaps and proposing additional test scenarios within assigned areas.

• Support bring-up activities for new ASIC revisions and platforms.

• Document validation results, defects, and lessons learned to improve future validation effectiveness.

• Participate in design reviews, validation reviews, and post-silicon issue triage.

• Drive validation quality through test development, automation, and coverage expansion rather than execution of predefined test plans.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Experience developing diagnostics, validation, verification, firmware, embedded software, or other tests for ASICs or other complex digital systems.

• Proficiency in object-oriented programming.

• Proficiency in Python software development

• Proficiency with Linux command-line environments.

• Working knowledge of high-speed networking concepts and protocols, including Ethernet fundamentals and high-speed interfaces.

• Ability to independently develop test content, and debug complex technical issues.

• Ability to understand hardware behavior and identify defects through software-driven testing and analysis.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Experience with emulator-based validation or FPGA-based platforms.

• Experience in ASIC design verification, including UVM or similar verification methodologies.

• Working knowledge of Verilog, SystemVerilog, or other hardware description languages.

• Familiarity with high-performance NIC or switch ASICs.

• Exposure to HPC or AI system architectures.

• Experience with embedded software, firmware development, or low-level systems programming.

• Experience with scripting and test automation.

• Familiarity with industry-standard lossless Ethernet or RDMA-based technologies.