Principal Software Engineer in Test (SDET)

Job details

Work model

Hybrid

Salary

$180K - $300K

Location

Santa Clara

Hiring context

How this role compares at d-Matrix

d-Matrix has 39 live roles in MeritLog’s catalog across 4 job families, and 23 of them are in engineering. 30 of those listings publish a pay range, a disclosure rate of 77%.

This role's posted range of $180K - $300K sits above 54% of the 28 other d-Matrix roles quoted over the same currency and period.

Counted across the job boards MeritLog tracks, at the time this page was served. Pay comparisons use only listings that publish a complete range in the same currency and period.

What the role asks for

Parsed by MeritLog from the employer’s own posting. The full description follows below.

Job description

At d-Matrix, we are focused on unleashing the potential of generative AI to power the transformation of technology. We are at the forefront of software and hardware innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Our culture is one of respect and collaboration. We value humility and believe in direct communication. Our team is inclusive, and our differing perspectives allow for better solutions. We are seeking individuals passionate about tackling challenges and are driven by execution.  Ready to come find your playground? Together, we can help shape the endless possibilities of AI.  ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a Principal Software Engineer in QA to join our Software Qualification team and play a central role in productizing the d-Matrix AI compute engine. This is a senior individual contributor role with team leadership responsibilities - you will both set the technical direction for test strategy and directly mentor and guide junior engineers through test planning, automation, and execution. You will work side by side with software development, product, and systems teams to design, automate, and execute comprehensive test suites covering the features, functionalities, and deployment scenarios of our next-generation AI chip software stack. You will own the development and continuous improvement of d-Matrix’s end-to-end and regression test infrastructure, bringing rigor and scalability to quality across the full stack - from low-level firmware and hardware interfaces up through runtime and ML workload execution. WHAT YOU WILL DO TEST STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP • Lead and mentor junior QA engineers in test planning, test case design, automation best practices, and systematic debugging. • Define test coverage strategies for new features and deployment scenarios in collaboration with product, software, and systems teams. • Drive root cause analysis for test failures and escaped defects; own resolution workflows with engineering counterparts. • Represent the Software Qualification team in cross-functional design and planning reviews, surfacing quality risks early. TEST AUTOMATION & INFRASTRUCTURE • Design, implement, and maintain scalable Python-based test suites within the Pytest framework, covering both software and system-level use cases. • Build and improve the d-Matrix end-to-end test suite and regression test suite, integrated into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and GitLab. • Develop and maintain test infrastructure that supports rapid, reliable validation of workloads and ML models across hardware and software configurations. • Write high-quality Python programs applying advanced data structures and algorithms to complex testing scenarios. FULL-STACK SOFTWARE & SYSTEM VALIDATION • Design and execute test cases covering lower-layer stack components including FPGAs, bootloaders, and host runtime drivers. • Validate firmware behavior, embedded architectures, and IO technologies including PCIe interfaces. • Test integration across CPUs, GPUs, and d-Matrix AI accelerators, ensuring correct end-to-end system behavior. • Engage deeply in software bug triaging and debugging - including complex, ambiguous issues that span hardware and software boundaries. COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATION • Partner with software development, product, and systems teams on test coverage planning and result interpretation. • Clearly communicate test plans, quality status, and risk assessments to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Contribute to shared QA standards, tooling, and documentation used across the engineering organization. WHAT YOU WILL BRING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with 10+ years of industry experience. • 8+ years of experience in software development with strong command of data structures and algorithms. • 8+ years of experience developing and testing lower-layer software stacks including FPGAs, bootloaders, and host runtime drivers. • 5+ years of experience in firmware design, implementation, and troubleshooting. • 3+ years of experience with embedded architectures and IO technologies, including PCIe, GPUs, and CPUs. • Fluency in Python programming; ability to write production-quality test code applying advanced data structures and algorithms. • Proven ability to debug complex, multi-layered issues spanning hardware and software. • Comfort navigating ambiguous, open-ended problems and driving toward structured, measurable outcomes. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to represent quality concerns clearly across engineering, product, and leadership. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS • Experience with machine learning frameworks and ML accelerator architectures; familiarity with the software stack required to run ML workloads on custom silicon. • Knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs), their operational characteristics, and the inference stack - particularly in the context of hardware-software co-design. • Prior experience in a principal or staff-level QA or test engineering role with demonstrated team leadership and mentorship. WHY THIS ROLE As a Principal engineer on the Software Qualification team, you will have direct ownership over the quality of the software stack that powers d-Matrix’s AI compute engine - from the lowest hardware interfaces up through full ML workload execution. You will build test infrastructure that scales with the product, lead a team of engineers, and work at the intersection of hardware and software in one of the most technically demanding domains in AI computing. If you thrive on deep technical ownership, complex problem-solving, and making quality a first-class engineering discipline, this role is built for you. Equal Opportunity Employment Policy d-Matrix is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcomed and empowered to do their best work. We hire the best talent for our teams, regardless of race, religion, color, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, or veteran status. Our focus is on hiring teammates with humble expertise, kindness, dedication and a willingness to embrace challenges and learn together every day. d-Matrix does not accept resumes or candidate submissions from external agencies. We appreciate the interest and effort of recruitment firms, but we kindly request that individual interested in opportunities with d-Matrix apply directly through our official channels. This approach allows us to streamline our hiring processes and maintain a consistent and fair evaluation of al applicants. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.