Software Engineer, System-on-Chip (SoC) Testing

Waymo's Compute Team is tasked with a critical and exciting mission: We deliver the compute platform responsible for running the autonomous vehicle's software stack. To achieve our mission, we architect and create high-performance custom silicon; we develop system-level compute architectures that push the boundaries of performance, power, and latency; and we collaborate with many other teammates to ensure we design and improve hardware and software for maximum performance. We are a diverse team looking for curious and talented teammates to work on one of the world's highest performance automotive compute platforms.

This role follows a hybrid work schedule and you will report to a Software Engineering Manager.

This position will require the ability to work some hours that align with the team in the Pacific Time zone on an as needed basis.

You will:

• Design and develop scalable software frameworks for automated post-silicon testing of custom system-on-chips (SoC) and ML/AI accelerators 
• Translate hardware databook instructions (register maps, timing diagrams) into robust C++ code for hardware/software interaction
• Build and maintain sophisticated automation scripts using Python and Bash to manage complex test sequences
• Debug software-to-hardware communication issues, working closely with hardware designers to ensure register-level accuracy
• Improve the efficiency of existing validation software to reduce test cycle times

You have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or  Electrical Engineering
• Strong Proficiency in C++: Experience with pointers, memory management, and low-level system programming is mandatory
• Advanced Scripting: Expert-level Python skills, specifically for automation and data analysis
• Software Engineering Fundamentals: Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented design
• Experience with Bash/Unix environments for toolchain management
• Willingness to Learn Hardware: While a background in silicon is helpful, the primary requirement is the ability to apply rigorous software engineering principles to hardware validation

We prefer:

• Knowledge of hardware IP blocks (e.g., PCIe, DDR, USB)
• Experience with JTAG, I2C, or SPI protocols.
• Previous experience in post-silicon validation or embedded systems