Validation/Characterization Engineer

About the Team

This role is part of TI's Space Power product line — one of the most demanding and mission-critical areas in the semiconductor industry. Our charter is to develop and qualify power ICs that operate reliably in the harshest environments on earth and beyond: deep space and low-earth orbit constellations. Unlike product lines focused on a single device family, Space Power spans the full breadth of Analog Power products — LDOs, voltage references, voltage sequencers, voltage supervisors, gate drivers, PWM controllers, power stages, multi-phase power converters, and switching converters such as buck and boost topologies. Our portfolio includes radiation-hardened (QMLV and QMLP) and radiation-tolerant (-SEP) devices, including next-generation GaN-based power stages, and we are growing rapidly as commercial space demand accelerates. When your products power a satellite that must operate without service for its entire mission life, there is no margin for error. We are looking for a validation engineer who thrives on that challenge.

The breadth of the Space Power portfolio means you will build a technical foundation that few validation roles can match. Engineers who grow through this role develop the system-level intuition and domain depth that translate naturally across many areas of expertise. If you want to understand power ICs from silicon to space application, this is where that career starts.

Job Responsibilities

As a Validation Engineer, your primary responsibility is to ensure the product meets its specifications as defined in the datasheet and VVCM (validation/verification compliance matrix). Beyond specification compliance, you are responsible for ensuring device functionality is understood and correlated across system-level use-cases and break-the-part test conditions — characterizing the boundaries of device operation and documenting behavior at and beyond rated limits. To do this, validation engineers design PCB boards and develop automation software to increase coverage and reduce data collection time.

As a Validation Engineer on the Space Power new product development execution (NPDE) team, you will own validation and characterization activities across radiation-hardened and radiation-tolerant power products. Work will involve:

• Work with the product definition and design team before silicon availability to thoroughly understand validation requirements, including device-level, system-level, and compliance specifications.
• Define and own a validation plan and schedule with coverage of all use-cases and corner conditions, including PVT sweeps across process, voltage, and temperature extremes.
• Develop and maintain a VVCM/Starfish compliance matrix to track validation coverage and drive closure of all datasheet limits.
• Design and build validation PCBs using Altium Designer and/or Cadence Allegro X that meet signal and power integrity requirements of space-grade power devices, including GaN-based topologies.
• Develop reusable, automated test sequences using Python and NI TestStand to execute the validation plan and collect parametric characterization data at scale.
• Support COTS upscreen validation checkout — running electrical and functional screening flows to qualify commercial off-the-shelf power ICs for space applications.
• Perform datasheet plot collection and creation; apply statistical analysis (distributions, Cpk, limit capability) to assess spec margins and drive datasheet limit decisions.
• Drive reviews with the extended team covering validation boards, test results, and debug findings; collaborate across functions including design, systems, applications, test engineering, and quality.
• On anomalous behavior observed, perform debug through design of experiments to narrow down the source — error in stimulus, error in hardware, or isolating the probable on-device circuit block responsible for the behavior.

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field of study
• 3 + years of relevant semiconductor industry experience in Product, Test, Characterization or Validation
• Proficiency with lab instrumentation: oscilloscopes, SMUs, DMMs, signal generators, and power supplies
• Experience developing test automation using Python and/or NI TestStand

Preferred qualifications

Domain Knowledge & Interpersonal

• Familiarity with radiation-hardened or radiation-tolerant IC concepts (QMLV, QMLP, SEP ratings) is a plus
• Proficiency with power electronics characterization techniques: Bode plot (AC sweep) for gain margin and phase margin, output noise density, startup and shutdown waveforms, transient response including load step and line step, and PSRR (power supply rejection ratio)
• Advanced: experience with CMTI (common mode transient immunity) testing and double pulse testing (DPT) for GaN and wide-bandgap device characterization is a plus
• Ability to establish strong relationships with key stakeholders critical to success, both internally and externally
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work in teams and collaborate effectively with people in different functions
• Ability to take the initiative and drive for results
• Strong time management skills that enable on-time project delivery

Hardware

• Hands-on PCB design experience using Altium Designer and/or Cadence Allegro X
• Understanding of power electronics layout fundamentals: DC-DC converters, GaN FETs, switching topologies, and magnetics
• Experience working with high-voltage power circuits in a lab environment

Software

• Proficiency with Python/TestStand for automated data collection and test sequence development
• Familiarity with VVCM/Starfish or equivalent validation compliance tracking tools
• Version control experience using Git

Data Analysis

• Experience with Spotfire or equivalent tool for parametric data visualization and analysis
• Ability to collect and create datasheet-quality plots from characterization data
• Working knowledge of statistical methods for limit validation: distribution analysis, Cpk, and specification capability