Design Verification Lead (AI Hardware)

Location: Austin, TX or Sunnyvale, CA; full-time onsite position

Company

hirify.global is a startup developing silicon-photonic AI inference chips that use programmable metasurfaces to improve compute performance and energy efficiency.

What you will do

• Own verification methodology and UVM-based testbench architecture with emphasis on AI-driven flows.
• Build verification plans spanning module-level simulation, SoC integration, interface checks, top-level I/O, and validation.
• Specify, evaluate, and integrate third-party verification IP.
• Own gate-level simulation with SDF-annotated timing for tapeout closure.
• Extend FPGA-based verification and prototyping harnesses and operate cloud-hosted emulation infrastructure.
• Build and lead the verification team while partnering with system architecture, RTL design, physical design, DFT, and validation.

Requirements

• 8–15 years of design verification experience, including leading verification of a GPU-class or complex compute ASIC through tapeout.
• Deep expertise in UVM and SystemVerilog, including testbench architecture, formal verification, coverage analysis, and CI/CD methodology.
• Experience with gate-level simulation, SoC integration, independently developed blocks, analog components, and analog model integration.
• Ability to build verification environments end to end, including emulation infrastructure.
• Hands-on emulation experience with Palladium or an equivalent platform.
• Must work onsite in Austin, TX or Sunnyvale, CA.

Nice to have

• Experience developing analog models with WREAL or equivalent descriptions.
• FPGA-based verification or prototyping experience.
• Cadence toolchain experience.
• Experience using AI tooling to accelerate testbench development and coverage closure.
• Exposure to silicon photonics or optical component verification.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative engineering environment focused on photonics and AI hardware.
• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for employees and dependents, plus HSA contributions.
• Unlimited PTO.
• 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities.
• Dental, vision, life, hospital, critical illness, and accident insurance options.
• Personalized benefits plans with the option to receive cash for unused selections.