CPU/Processor Verification – Core Units (Front End of Pipeline)

Introduction
As a Hardware Developer at IBM you’ll get to work on the systems that are driving the quantum revolution and the AI era. Join an elite team of engineering professionals who enable IBM customers to make better decisions quicker on the most trusted hardware platform in today’s market.

Your Role and Responsibilities

• Lead the unit level pre-silicon functional & performance verification of the front end of the pipeline for our next -generation IBM POWER processor core systems offering.
• Architect and enhance the existing verification environment for Instruction fetch Branch Prediction and Instruction Decode units of the high performance processor CPU.
• Develop verification test plan for both functional and performance verification including the estimation for coverage closure.
• Support higher level core/system simulation environment.
• Participate in post silicon lab bring-up and validation of the Hardware.
• Lead guide mentor a team of engineers and represent them at global forums.
• Thoroughly document verification environment details providing comprehensive insights for future reference and continuous improvement.
• Effectively Communicate progress potential challenges encountered and milestones achieved to stake holders and team members.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• 8 years or more experience in functional verification of processors demonstrating a deep understanding of core units (eg. I-Cache Instruction Fetch Branch Prediction Instruction Decode)
• Good understanding of computer architecture including Processor core design specifications with expertise in verifying frontend pipeline units of any CPU architecture.
• Hands on experience of Branch Prediction techniques.
• Deep expertise in Out of Order Super Scalar Multi-Threaded Core Architecture and ISA
• Experience with high frequency instruction pipeline designs
• At least 1 generation of Processor Core silicon bring up experience
• In depth understanding of industry microprocessor designs (e.g. x86 ARM or RISC-V processor designs)
• Exposure to system-level verification methodologies and techniques ensuring holistic verification coverage across multiple levels of design
• Proficiency in C++ Python scripting or similar object oriented programming languages.

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• Knowledge of instruction dispatch and Arithmetic unit.
• Knowledge of test generation tools and working with ISA reference model.
• Experience with translating ISA specifications to testplan.
• Knowledge of verification principles and coverage.
• Understanding of Agile development processes.
• Experience with DevOps design methodologies and tools.