Job Description

About Positron AI

Positron.ai specializes in developing custom hardware systems to accelerate AI inference. These inference systems offer significant performance and efficiency gains over traditional GPU-based systems, delivering advantages in both performance per dollar and performance per watt. Positron exists to create the world's best AI inference systems.

Lead Emulation Engineer

Location: Remote (Global) Company: Positron.ai

The Mission

At Positron.ai, we are redefining the efficiency of AI Inference. As our Emulation Lead, you will be the architect of our pre-silicon validation strategy. You will take full ownership of our Cadence Palladium Z3 environment, bridging the gap between hardware design and system software. This is a high-impact role where you will build a specialized team to ensure our silicon is battle-tested and our software stack is production-ready long before the first chips return from the fab.

Key Responsibilities

• Ownership & Strategy: Define and execute the end-to-end emulation strategy for our next-generation AI Inference ASIC.
• Infrastructure Management: Oversee the Oversee the complex, multi-site build process for emulation targets, ensuring design and software synchronization.
• Manage builds and deployment of our Palladium Z3 cluster (hosted via Cadence Cloud). Manage builds, job scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Act as the primary technical bridge between the ASIC Design/DV teams and the System Software team. Ensure the emulation platform provides a high-fidelity environment for driver and compiler development.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and lead a lean, elite team of emulation specialists.
• Environment Development: Oversee the creation of transactors, monitors, and complex testbenches. Drive the development of a comprehensive emulation testplan that targets both hardware bugs and software performance bottlenecks.
• Debug & Analysis: Lead deep-dive debug sessions using Palladium’s advanced trace and capture capabilities to resolve complex SoC-level issues.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 8+ years in ASIC/SoC verification or emulation, with at least 2+ years in a leadership or "Architect" capacity.
• Platform Expertise: Deep, hands-on experience with Cadence Palladium systems (Z1, Z2, or Z3). Knowledge of the IXCOM/Dynamic Emulation interfaces is essential.
• Technical Breadth: * Proficiency in SystemVerilog/UVM for emulation-ready testbenches.
• • Strong understanding of high-speed interfaces (PCIe, CXL, DDR5) and AI-specific data flows.
  • Comfortable with scripting (Python, Tcl) to automate build flows and results analysis.
• The "Startup" Mindset: A proactive builder who prefers solving problems to filing tickets. You must be comfortable working in a fully remote, fast-paced environment.

Bonus Points For:

• Experience with AI/ML hardware accelerators or large-scale multi-core SoCs.
• Familiarity with hybrid emulation (Virtual Platforms + Palladium).
• Experience managing cloud-hosted hardware infrastructure.

Why Join Positron.ai?

• Be part of a rapidly growing AI startup shaping the future of AI hardware
• Work on groundbreaking technology with a highly skilled and passionate team
• Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits package
• Flexible work environment with remote work options

If you are excited about ensuring the highest quality AI hardware and leading an advanced verification team, we want to hear from you! Apply today.