Job Description
Server Platform Validation Principal Engineer
Function: Hardware / Platform Validation
Role Summary
Hands-on System Development Engineer responsible for end-to-end validation of x86 and ARM server platforms, with strong emphasis on server board‑level validation, firmware/BIOS testing, and system bring‑up. This is a lab‑intensive role spanning hardware, firmware, OS, and platform integration across pre-production and NPI environments.
What you’ll achieve:
As a Principal Engineer, you will design and implement critical services, lead complex refactors, and champion quality. You will collaborate across teams to resolve dependencies and raise the bar for performance and reliability.
Join us to do the best work of your career and make a profound social impact as a Principal Engineer on our Systems Development Engineering team.
Responsible for design, definition, and implementation of complex system requirements for customers, and/or prepares studies and analyzes existing systems.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Perform end‑to‑end server solution validation across CPU, memory, PCIe, storage, networking, power, thermal, BIOS, BMC, FPGA, and OS.
Lead server board‑level bring‑up and validation, including power sequencing, POST/boot‑flow debug, and unit test validation.
Validate CPU initialization, memory training (DDR4/DDR5), chipset integration, power management, and RAS features.
Design and execute validation for BIOS/UEFI, OpenBMC, CPLD, secure boot, TPM, IPMI, and Redfish.
Execute hardware stability, stress, thermal, and power tests across multiple server platforms.
Analyze failures and root‑cause issues across HW / FW / OS boundaries using logs, serial console, and lab debug tools.
Collaborate with silicon vendors, ODMs, hardware, firmware, and OS teams to support NPI milestones.
Take the first step towards your dream career
Every Dell Technologies team member brings something unique to the table. Here’s what we are looking for with this role:
Mandatory Qualifications
10+ years of hands‑on server platform validation / system development experience. Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in EE, ECE, Computer Engineering, or equivalent.
Strong experience with server board‑level validation and bring‑up (power, clocks, reset, PCIe, memory).
Hands‑on experience with x86 and ARM server platforms across multiple generations.
Strong BIOS/UEFI and OpenBMC firmware validation experience.
Board‑level debug experience using JTAG/XDP, PCIe analyzers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes.
Proven experience in hardware stability, stress, thermal, and power validation.
Strong debug skills across hardware, firmware, and Linux OS.
Core Technical Skills
PCIe Gen4/Gen5, DDR4/DDR5, NVMe, CXL
Server power, thermal, and high‑speed design concepts
Linux debug tools: lspci, dmidecode, mcelog, ipmitool
Python/Bash for automation; working knowledge of C/C++
Desired / Preferred Skills
Hands‑on experience with GPU validation and testing:
-NVIDIA GPUs (CUDA, nvidia‑smi, DCGM, NVLink/NVSwitch)
-AMD GPUs (ROCm, rocm‑smi, Infinity Fabric)
-AI/HPC benchmarks (MLPerf, HPL, NCCL/RCCL)
Exposure to multi‑GPU server platforms and high‑density AI systems.
Experience with OCP platforms, hyperscale or cloud server validation.
Familiarity with compliance testing (PCI‑SIG, UEFI SCT).
We believe that each of us has the power to make an impact. That’s why we put our team members at the center of everything we do. If you’re looking for an opportunity to grow your career with some of the best minds and most advanced tech in the industry, we’re looking for you.
Dell Technologies is a unique family of businesses that helps individuals and organizations transform how they work, live and play. Join us to build a future that works for everyone because Progress Takes All of Us.
Dell Technologies is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Read the full Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.
Visit our Culture Code page to learn more about how we work and lead.