Sr Performance Validation Engineer

Amazon is hiring a Sr Performance Validation Engineer in Sunnyvale, United States. It pays $213k-$288k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Amazon.

Level's read on this job

Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
Tools and skills the posting cites include UVM, System C and pre silicon validation.
Level classifies it as a senior role.
Level lists 20,000+ other open roles at Amazon.

AI in this role

Validate and verify silicon performance for consumer electronics processors during the pre-silicon phase.

UVMSystem C

pre-silicon-validationrtl-simulationperformance-modelingdebugging

Amazon Lab126 is an inventive research and development company that designs and engineers high-profile consumer electronics. Lab126 began in 2004 as a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc., originally creating the best-selling Kindle family of products. Since then, we have produced numerous devices like Fire tablets, Fire TV and Amazon Echo. What will you help us create? The team that built the innovative SoCs AZ3 and AZ3 Pro that power the latest generation of Echo devices is looking for Senior Pre-Silicon Performance Validation Engineer to continue to innovate on behalf of our customers.

As the Senior Pre-Silicon Performance Validation Engineer, you will be responsible for validating and verifying the performance of complex silicon designs during the pre-silicon phase, ensuring that our chip designs meet stringent performance, power, and functionality requirements before tape-out across multiple process nodes.

Key job responsibilities
In this role, you will:
• Design and execute comprehensive validation strategies for silicon performance during the pre-silicon phase using RTL simulations, emulation platforms, and virtual prototypes.
• Develop test plans that verify performance against design specifications before tape-out.
• Create and maintain validation infrastructure including test benches, performance models, simulation environments, and automated validation frameworks.
• Develop and maintain performance models to predict silicon behavior including frequency, power consumption, and thermal characteristics.
• Create methodologies for accurate performance prediction and correlation with expected post-silicon results.
• Identify performance bottlenecks through simulation and analysis, working with design teams to implement optimization strategies before tape-out.
• Debug and Root Cause Analysis
• Establish validation methodologies and best practices that can be adopted across the organization. Create comprehensive checklists and procedures for performance validation activities.
• Work closely with architecture, RTL design, verification and emulation teams to ensure performance requirements are met throughout the pre-silicon development cycle.
• Provide early feedback to design teams on performance optimization opportunities.
• Collaborate with external partners and vendors on emulation and virtual platform activities.

Basic qualifications

- 7+ years of UVM, C, System C, and scripting experience
- Deep understanding of digital design principles, timing analysis, and power management techniques. Expertise in pre-silicon performance validation methodologies for complex SoCs or processors using simulation, emulation, and virtual platforms.
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 7+ years of experience
- Proficiency with industry-standard tools including RTL simulators (VCS, Questa, Xcelium), emulation platforms (Palladium, Zebu), and performance analysis tools.
- Strong programming skills in Python, C/C++, SystemVerilog, or similar languages for test automation and performance modeling
- Strong knowledge of semiconductor design flows from architecture to tape-out and their impact on performance

Preferred qualifications

- Master's degree or Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
- Proven track record of successful pre-silicon performance validation on multiple tape-outs.
- Understanding of performance modeling techniques and correlation methodologies.
- Familiarity with industry standards and protocols relevant to the target application domain. Experience with machine learning accelerators, multi-core processors, or similar complex digital designs is a plus
- Experience with emulation-based validation of multi-core processors or SoCs. Knowledge of UPF (Unified Power Format) and low-power design techniques, performance modeling and early power estimation methodologies.
- Experience with virtual prototyping and transaction-level modeling (TLM). Background in RTL design, verification, or architecture is beneficial.

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.

USA, CA, Sunnyvale - 213,000.00 - 287,500.00 USD annually

How we rate this

Sr Performance Validation Engineer at Amazon rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Sr Performance Validation Engineer is an open job at Amazon.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $213k-$288k a year.
The role is based in US, CA, Sunnyvale.
The job was posted on April 17, 2026.
Seniority: senior.
Applications are handled by Amazon. Apply on Amazon

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Pre Silicon ValidationRtl SimulationPerformance ModelingDebuggingUVMSystem C

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where pre silicon validation was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where rtl simulation was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where performance modeling was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where debugging was part of your work. What did you do?
Walk me through how you've used UVM in your day-to-day work.

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Pre Silicon Validation, Rtl Simulation, Performance Modeling, Debugging, and UVM. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

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