Director of Silicon Validation

The posting, as Positron wrote it

About Positron AI
Positron AI is building next-generation AI inference accelerators designed from the ground up for low-latency, high-throughput large language model inference. Our first-generation ASIC, Asimov, is a cutting-edge accelerator targeting frontier AI workloads, with additional generations already underway.

Role Overview
We are looking for a Director of Silicon Validation to own the complete verification and validation lifecycle of our AI inference silicon, from pre-silicon functional verification, through hardware emulation, to post-silicon bring-up and production validation. This leader owns the question every tape-out depends on: is the design correct, and how do we know? The ideal candidate has led verification and validation organizations through multiple successful tape-outs, is equally at home in a SystemVerilog code review and in a post-silicon lab, and has built the methodology and infrastructure that lets a team scale through leverage rather than headcount alone.

This is an Austin, TX based role. We do not yet have a physical office in the area, but we are planning to open one. Once established, employees will be expected to work in a hybrid capacity, splitting time between in-office and remote work.
Key Responsibilities
Verification & Validation Leadership

• Lead and grow three interlocking disciplines: pre-silicon design verification, hardware emulation, and post-silicon validation and bring-up.
• Own the verification strategy, test plans, and coverage closure criteria that gate tape-out, and make the data-driven readiness recommendation to executive leadership.

Test Strategy & Emulation Infrastructure

• Define what content runs where across simulation, emulation, FPGA prototyping, and silicon to maximize bug discovery per engineering day and per compute dollar.
• Build and scale the emulation environment into the platform that enables firmware and software bring-up well ahead of first silicon.

Post-Silicon Bring-Up & Debug

• Establish the post-silicon bring-up plan, lab infrastructure, and on-chip observability and debug strategy before tape-out, and lead the bring-up effort when silicon arrives.
• Drive bug triage, root cause analysis, escape analysis, and errata management, and own the respin-versus-workaround recommendation.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Program Infrastructure

• Partner with design, DFT, physical design, firmware, and software teams so that verification intent, debug hooks, and test content are designed in rather than bolted on.
• Own regression infrastructure, compute and license capacity planning, and continuous integration for verification and emulation workloads.
• Manage relationships with EDA and emulation vendors, verification IP suppliers, and third-party IP providers.

Team Building

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing verification and validation organization across multiple sites.

Required Qualifications

• A degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Enginee

[…]
gside a world-class team of engineers and AI researchers.

• Help shape the future of AI acceleration technology, backed by competitive compensation, equity, and benefits.

Compensation & Benefits
The base salary range for this role is $200,000 – $350,000.

Please note that the figures provided represent the base salary range only and do not include other elements of our total compensation package, equity, or comprehensive benefits.

At Positron AI, we value the unique expertise each candidate brings. While the range above reflects our typical expectation for the position, we reserve the flexibility to exceed this range for candidates whose specialized skills, significant experience, or unique qualifications fall outside the standard scope of the role. Final offers are determined based on a variety of factors, including internal equity, and individual impact.
Benefits & Perks
We want you to do your best work and feel confident that you and your family are taken care of. That means comprehensive coverage, real time to rest, and support for your future.
Health and wellness

• Fully company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents
• Company-paid life and disability coverage, with voluntary options to add more
• Supplemental hospital, critical illness, and accident coverage available

Time off and flexibility

• Unlimited paid time off, we encourage everyone to truly unplug and recharge
• 13 paid company holidays
• Remote-first culture with a company-provided computer and home office setup

Compensation and future

• Competitive salary and equity
• 401(k) with company matching, eligible from day one

Visa Support
This position is open to candidates currently authorized to work in the U.S. We cannot provide new visa sponsorship for this role but are open to facilitating H-1B visa transfers for eligible candidates.

Equal Opportunity Employer. If you're excited about the role but don't meet every bullet, we'd still love to hear from you.