Senior Principal Engineer, Design Verification at Altera

San Jose, California, United States

Altera Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
FPGA, Semiconductors, Networking, Data CenterIndustries

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
  • 20+ years of experience in ASIC/SoC design verification
  • Expertise in PCIe (Gen1-6) protocols, host interfaces, and complex SoC subsystems
  • Strong proficiency in SystemVerilog, Verilog, UVM, OOP, and testbench development
  • Proven track record of delivering production-quality silicon in advanced networking

Responsibilities

  • Lead verification of complex IPs and subsystems, including PCIe Gen5/Gen6 controllers, host interfaces, high-performance DMA engines, datapath accelerators, and fabric interconnects
  • Architect and implement UVM-based scalable verification environments for next-generation data center hardware
  • Define and execute comprehensive test plans, ensuring functional coverage and verification closure
  • Collaborate with design and post-silicon engineering teams to debug and resolve issues across pre-silicon and post-silicon environments
  • Drive methodology and infrastructure improvements to accelerate coverage closure and reduce verification cycle times by 50% or more
  • Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers, and coordinate across global verification teams
  • Partner with architects to review specifications and contribute to innovative debug features and system performance enhancements
  • Deliver high-quality, first-pass silicon for data center, HPC, and networking products
  • Serve as a strategic technical leader influencing verification strategy across multiple programs
  • Champion best practices in methodology, automation, and infrastructure, driving adoption across engineering teams
  • Act as a thought leader in PCIe and high-performance SoC verification, representing the company at technical forums, conferences, and standards committees when required
  • Drive cross-functional alignment across architecture, design, and validation to accelerate product delivery
  • Mentor, coach, and inspire the next generation of verification leaders, building a pipeline of technical expertise across the organization

Skills

PCIe
UVM
SystemVerilog
DMA
FPGA
Verification
Host Interfaces
Datapath Accelerators
Fabric Interconnects
Quartus

Altera

Develops digital human agents for AI

About Altera

Altera develops digital human agents that mimic human traits like empathy, friendship, and fun. Their primary product allows users to interact with an AI agent while playing Minecraft, creating a friendly and engaging experience. Altera's agents are designed to be interoperable and capable of long-term autonomy, making them suitable for both individual users and businesses. Unlike many competitors, Altera focuses on advancing research and scaling technology to deliver unique, human-like AI products. The company's goal is to redefine AI agents, enhancing their versatility and human-like qualities.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2023Year Founded
$10.7MTotal Funding
SEEDCompany Stage
Consumer Software, AI & Machine LearningIndustries
11-50Employees

Risks

Priest-led cults in Altera's Minecraft simulation may cause ethical concerns.
Managing 1,000 autonomous AI agents poses safety and ethical challenges.
Creating believable digital humans may lead to misuse in deceptive AI applications.

Differentiation

Altera specializes in digital human agents with traits like empathy and friendship.
Their first product offers a unique Minecraft experience with interactive AI agents.
Altera's focus on human-like AI agents sets them apart in the AI sector.

Upsides

Altera raised $9M in May 2024, showing strong investor confidence.
AI-driven gaming experiences are gaining popularity, benefiting Altera's Minecraft product.
The rise of AI companions in mental health indicates a market for empathetic agents.

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