Hardware Engineer DFT and FPGA Graduate 2021

Over 125 Arm-powered products are shipped every second and over 35 billion Arm technology-based chips have been shipped to date, making us the world’s leading semiconductor Intellectual Property (IP) supplier. If you have a smartphone, personal computer, gaming console or a smart meter at home, you’ve already used an Arm-powered product. There are many teams based in the Cambridge headquarters, covering a variety of hardware engineering functions like CPU, CPU and systems. The Productivity engineering group is responsible for defining, developing, delivering and deploying hardware engineering solutions (methodologies and flows) across various hardware engineering groups.

The Productivity Engineering (PE) team is in an outstanding position where it can interact with and influence a number of experts across hardware organization. People who work for Arm love the things that make it special. Our real passion for progress is what drives us, and time for innovation is encouraged! Some flexible working is possible, and we succeed as a team of highly collaborative forward-thinking individuals. Our team strives to reduce the power usage, increase the performance and improve the integration of our IP products as well as delivering silicon to enable our development platforms. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a multi-site team, working on cutting-edge process nodes and tools, to do work which can really make a difference! DFT and FPGA solutions are part of PE team.

DFT group is responsible for DFT architecture and test methodology across all Arm cores, Arm libraries and internal test chips. The DFT group is also responsible for exploring and/or driving leading DFT technologies on Arm cores to enhance partner experience in DFT implementation. This often involves deploying existing DFT methodologies on ARM IP while evaluating future technologies. We work closely with leading EDA vendors on evaluating cutting edge DFT technologies which are important to ARM partners. As a member of a small and dynamic team, you will be working alongside DFT experts and deploying defined DFT methodology on Arm IP. You will also contribute to DFT methodology and flow development activities as well as being a stake holder in our worldwide DFT consortium.

The FPGA group is responsible for FPGA flows and hardware at Arm. The images we are developing are needed to perform accelerated verification of ARM IP products. These systems are challenging in both the area of hardware design and capabilities required to debug these complex IPs, requiring an enthusiasm for science and technology as a whole. We use state-of-the-art FPGA prototyping platforms from the top tier EDA and prototyping vendors in order to increase the amount of testing that can be achieved before product release. The FPGA prototypes are also vital for early SW development. You will be encouraged to find solutions whenever such a challenge presents itself so this will test your resourcefulness and ability to work in an autonomous manner as well as part of a cohesive team.

The activities for this role demand an enthusiastic candidate from either a Computer Science or Electrical/Electronic Engineering background with a strong desire to constantly evolve a cross-disciplinary skill set, in particular DFT or FPGA skills:

• Building a detailed expertise in domain of DFT which includes ATPG, Compression, IJTAG and MBIST.
• Working on DFT verification flows based on simulation and formal techniques.
• Understanding implications of DFT on PPA and design.
• Gaining experience of FPGA prototyping of Arm IPs.
• Building software skills required for automating methodologies and flows. 

You will play an essential role in deploying DFT or FPGA methodologies across Arm IP in mainly the UK and EU to meet DFT quality goals and enhance DFT verification methodology as a by-product of deployment.

Accountabilities include

• DFT
  • DFT tool and process automation software development and testing
  • Arm MBIST interface verification using simulation and Formal methods
  • Generation of test patterns for current and future ARM cores
  • Simulation and debug of test patterns using a Verilog simulator
• FPGA
  • Creating FPGA images of Arm IP and assist internal verification teams for prototyping purposes
  • Working on FPGA flows to improve image build methodology.
  • Planning, installation and maintenance of data centre hardware and FPGA platforms.
• Work with EDA vendors on tool improvements
• Document and train design teams in DFT/FPGA methods created

Job Requirements

As a successful Engineer, you will be flexible with a variety of software or hardware development skills and a commitment to extend the breadth and depth of your knowledge. You will have a good university degree, ideally in Computer Science or Electrical/Electronic Engineering, although candidates with other academic backgrounds would also be considered if they have the relevant skills. You will possess a research mindset that seeks to find and communicate the best answers to complex technical problems based on systematic investigation.

Essential Skills and Qualifications

• Experience with Perl, Python, TCL, and/or C programming
• Proficient in Unix/Linux environments
• Knowledgeable in verification, synthesis, ATPG tools and debug
• Knowledge of hardware description languages (ideally Verilog & System Verilog)
• Definite plus to understand Design for Test elements such as scan, BIST, compression
• Definite plus to understand Formal verification methods and system Verilog
• Definite plus to possess knowledge and experience of working with FPGAs

Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to learn quickly and work independently, as well as part of a team
• Excellent problem solving skills and willingness to be flexible and accept new challenges
• Ability to cooperate & communicate well
• Motivated to continuously develop skills and accept a variety of responsibilities as part of contributing to the design centre’s success
• Demonstrated positive attitude and respect for all members of the team

Additional Information

At Arm, we are guided by our core beliefs that reflect our rare culture and guide our decisions, defining how we work together to defy ordinary and shape extraordinary:

We not I

• Take daily responsibility to make the Global Arm community thrive.
• No individual owns the right answer. Brilliance is collective.
• Information is crucial, share it.
• Realise that we win when we collaborate — and that everyone misses out when we don’t.

Passion for progress

• Our differences are our strength. Widen and mix up your network of connections.
• Difficult things can take unexpected directions. Stick with it.
• Make feedback positive and expansive, not negative and narrow.
• The essence of progress is that it can’t stop. Grow with it and own your own progress.

Be your brilliant self

• Be quirky not egocentric.
• Recognise the power in saying ‘I don’t know’.
• Make trust our default position.
• Hold strong opinions lightly.

Arm has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

With offices around the world, Arm is a diverse organisation of dedicated, innovative and highly talented professionals. By enabling a vibrant, inclusive, meritocratic, and open workplace, where all our people can grow and succeed, we encourage our people to share their unique contributions to Arm's success in the global marketplace.