Staff Customer Qualification Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled Validation Engineer to join our engineering organization and drive efforts for solid-state drives within server platform environments. This role will focus on qualifying SSD functionality, performance, reliability, and system integration in a datacenter test lab setting.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in server architecture, SSD technologies, PCIe/NVMe protocols, Linux-based debugging, and hardware/firmware validation. This is a highly cross-functional role requiring close collaboration with hardware, firmware, system, and quality engineering teams to identify issues, perform root cause analysis, and ensure products meet customer and industry requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Deploy, configure, and manage server hardware in a datacenter validation lab environment.
• Develop, architect, and execute SSD validation plans aligned with customer requirements and industry standards using the OSS Autoval-SSD OCP testing framework.
• Validate solid-state drives for compatibility, performance, reliability, and seamless integration within server systems.
• Perform electrical characterization and signal analysis between server platforms and SSDs using oscilloscopes and related lab instrumentation.
• Configure and maintain network environments necessary to support validation and debug workflows.
• Identify, isolate, reproduce, and document SSD and server platform failures in a structured and timely manner.
• Analyze system behavior, telemetry logs, and SSD traces to support debug and failure analysis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to investigate and resolve firmware, hardware, and integration-related issues.
• Communicate validation progress, technical findings, and test status clearly to internal stakeholders.
• Participate in root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives to improve product quality and reliability.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of validation processes, test coverage, automation, and lab infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret, develop, and execute test plans based on SSD industry specifications.
• Intermediate understanding of PCIe and NVMe protocols, with general knowledge of SSD firmware architecture.
• Strong understanding of server architecture, hardware components, and system-level integration.
• Experience with BMC and out-of-band management validation and testing.
• Working knowledge of network administration fundamentals and connectivity troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with solid-state storage technologies and SSD validation methodologies.
• Experience using Linux debugging tools, log analysis techniques, and issue tracking systems.
• Strong analytical thinking, troubleshooting ability, and attention to detail.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Redfish API, OpenBMC, and OCP networking hardware.
• Hands-on experience using oscilloscopes and performing basic soldering/rework.
• Experience debugging SSD failures through telemetry logging and trace analysis.
• Ability to capture, decode, and interpret SSD traces for failure diagnosis.
• Proficiency in scripting with Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
• Familiarity with image deployment, automated validation frameworks, and test infrastructure tools.
• Experience working in datacenter, enterprise server, or storage environments.
• Knowledge of OCP datacenter storage specifications and validation requirements.

Core Competencies

• SSD validation and failure analysis
• Server platform integration and hardware management
• NVMe and PCIe protocol knowledge
• Telemetry and log analysis
• Test plan development and execution
• Linux debugging and troubleshooting
• Network configuration and connectivity validation
• Automation and scripting
• Cross-functional collaboration

Additional Information

Req#2281; #LI-JV1

The expected salary for this position is $115,470.00 - $192,440.00.

At KIOXIA, we value the following:

• Investment in you
  • Offering opportunities for career growth and personal development training
• Open-minded management
  • Empowering employees by listening and responding to ideas, issues, and approaches
• Flexible work-life balance
  • Offering a generous PTO allotment, holiday shutdown, and flexible work options
• Variety of cultures, perspectives, backgrounds and experiences of all our team members
  • Through our opportunity, belonging and respect initiatives, our focus is to strengthen our company culture to create an environment of belonging for all
• Benefits for our team members
  • Excellent medical and non-medical benefits, 401(k) matching, pet insurance

KIOXIA America, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.