About the Role
The Principal Advanced System Validation Test (SVT) & Failure Analysis (FA) Engineer is responsible for leading advanced platform validation, system-level debugging, and failure analysis activities across complex hardware and firmware environments. This role serves as a senior technical expert responsible for identifying, isolating, and resolving critical issues that impact system stability, performance, scalability, and reliability throughout the product lifecycle.
The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in system validation, hardware architecture, firmware interactions, and root cause analysis with exceptional technical problem-solving skills. Working across hardware, firmware, BIOS, BMC, platform engineering, quality, and operations teams, this engineer drives technical investigations that improve product quality, accelerate issue resolution, and ensure deployment readiness for hyperscale and enterprise platforms.
What You Will Do
- Lead advanced system validation efforts for complex server, storage, networking, and infrastructure platforms.
- Design and execute validation plans focused on functionality, performance, reliability, scalability, and operational readiness.
- Perform deep technical debugging of hardware, firmware, BIOS, BMC, and system-level issues.
- Drive root cause investigations for critical defects discovered during development, validation, manufacturing, and field deployment.
- Analyze system logs, telemetry, crash dumps, diagnostics, and test data to identify failure mechanisms and performance bottlenecks.
- Collaborate with hardware, firmware, software, validation, and quality engineering teams to resolve complex cross-functional technical issues.
- Develop and enhance automated validation tools, diagnostic capabilities, and failure analysis methodologies.
- Assess platform readiness and provide technical recommendations for product qualification, release, and deployment.
- Lead fault isolation activities and define corrective actions that improve product reliability and operational performance.
- Support hardware bring-up, platform integration, and new technology introduction initiatives.
- Establish validation metrics, reliability measurements, and reporting mechanisms to track product quality and readiness.
- Participate in architecture reviews, design evaluations, and risk assessments to proactively identify potential system vulnerabilities.
- Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership on advanced debugging, validation, and failure analysis best practices.
What You Bring
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline; Master's degree preferred.
- 12+ years of experience in system validation, failure analysis, hardware engineering, firmware engineering, or related technical roles.
- Deep expertise in server platforms, system architecture, hardware validation, and firmware interactions.
- Strong experience performing advanced root cause analysis and debugging across hardware, firmware, BIOS, BMC, and operating system layers.
- Proven experience with failure analysis methodologies, defect investigation processes, and reliability engineering principles.
- Proficiency with diagnostic tools, system monitoring platforms, log analysis utilities, and hardware debugging equipment.
- Experience developing automation frameworks, validation tools, and diagnostic solutions using Python, Shell scripting, or similar languages.
- Strong understanding of system qualification, reliability testing, stress testing, and product release processes.
- Experience supporting hyperscale, cloud, enterprise data center, or high-performance computing environments.
- Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot highly complex technical issues and drive resolution across multiple engineering disciplines.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to influence technical direction and lead critical investigations in fast-paced, highly complex engineering organizations.
- Track record of improving product reliability, reducing defect escape rates, and accelerating issue resolution through rigorous validation and failure analysis practices.
