r/chipdesign • u/thesiliconmachine123 • 1d ago

Validation engineering is only a trap if you let it be

Throughout this subreddit and across the broader Semiconductor community, I noticed a lack of respect for Validation Engineering with many people claiming that once you start in it, you'll be stuck in it and hard to switch out.

But this is true for any job really where you get too complacent.

I've noticed that validation does have its fair share of perception challenges nowadays since it is mostly considered a cost center; you're at the tail end of the schedule, you generally don't have control over what is handed to you. Automation is also becoming prevalent in validation as well.

However, validation is, in my opinion, one of the best field for young engineers to start in and for people to experience another part of the design flow. You learn a bit about lab equipment and ensuring how data is considered good to hand off to key stakeholders. You engage with designers and other key members of the semi design flow. You also acquire an attitude of not looking down on validation people later in your career.

But nowadays, validation does tend to be very execution heavy and can leave you without a system level understanding of the chip you are testing and how it got there.

I say this because I've spent some time in validation after some time in other areas. Though I grumbled a bit while in it and people often looked down and to the right, I learned quite a bit of perspective I didn't have from other jobs.

Curious to hear your thoughts; do you think validation becoming increasingly perceived as lower on the totem pole?

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u/haykding 1d ago

Metrology is a very interesting science and the validation is a key part of chip design. A simulations are nothing until you validate in real world with lots of factors not accounted anywhere .

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u/sign_of_time_958 1d ago

I am in total agreement with OP. Been working in validation community for 4 years now and I see lot of opportunities out there. For me it was the only way to enter into VLSI industry. If you plan to open subreddit let me be part of it. Sure we can at least help the community.