Emulation Engineer

An "emulation engineer" would be a technical professional specializing in the use of emulation platforms to verify and validate the design of semiconductor chips, primarily focusing on tasks like building emulation models, developing testbenches, debugging issues on the emulation platform, and ensuring the functionality of the chip design before physical silicon is manufactured.

Key responsibilities of an Emulation Engineer include:

Emulation platform setup:

Setting up and configuring emulation platforms like Cadence Virtuoso, Mentor Graphics Veloce, or Synopsys Zebu to accurately represent the chip design.

Testbench development:

Writing and maintaining SystemVerilog testbenches to stimulate the chip design with various scenarios and test cases.

Emulation model creation:

Building detailed emulation models of the chip design, including memory controllers, peripherals, and interconnects.

Performance analysis:

Analyzing performance metrics on the emulation platform to identify bottlenecks and optimize the chip design.

Debug and root cause analysis:

Debugging issues identified during emulation runs and working with design teams to resolve them.

Verification methodology development:

Contributing to the overall verification strategy and methodology for the chip design.

Required skills for an Emulation Engineer :

• Strong understanding of digital logic design principles and verification methodologies
• Expertise in SystemVerilog and related verification languages
• Hands-on experience with emulation platforms like Cadence Virtuoso, Mentor Graphics Veloce, or Synopsys Zebu
• Familiarity with scripting languages like Python, Perl, or TCL for automation
• Good problem-solving and debugging skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams