Senior Cryptography Verification Engineer

Location:

Remote; UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Spain. Some travel to our offices (Oxford/London/Paris) will be required from time-to-time

Reports to:

Director of Hardware Engineering

Please note we can hire you in the following locations; UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands, Spain.

If you are not based in one of these countries then we are unable to move forward with your application.

We’re seeking a Senior Cryptography Verification Engineer who thrives on solving hard problems, building tools that make life easier for others, and driving verification with both rigor and creativity. This is not a checkbox role — we want someone who is hands-on, curious, and motivated to go beyond the obvious.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software development, cryptography, and secure product development, with a focus on delivering secure, high-performance, and efficient products.

We have been established since 2018, so you would be directly working with the founders and inventors of this deep tech startup. The technology is already a couple of years in the making, its feasibility having been established, funding secured, and it has a clear path to market. This is a great opportunity for career progression and to get a head start in a rapidly expanding segment of the technology industry.

You'll be a part of a team verifying security-critical designs where thoroughness is everything. On a daily basis, you will:

• Build and extend UVM test benches to verify cryptographic IPs and subsystems.
• Develop Python-based tools and automation to improve verification productivity.
• Use formal verification creatively, writing properties beyond canned apps to prove tricky scenarios.
• Debug at every level - from low-level waveforms to algorithmic mismatches.
• Collaborate with design, software, and architecture teams to ensure real-world use cases are covered.
• Approach designs with a "break it to make it" mindset, thinking like an attacher to expose weaknesses.

Beyond hands-on verification, you will also:

• Influence and define methodologies and strategies for design verification.
• Develop testbench architectures using UVM and formal-based approaches.
• Define verification plans, functional coverage models, and test strategies for block and subsystem verification.
• Lead verification at IP or SoC level, including effort estimation, scheduling, task assignment, and reporting progress to management.
• Drive coverage closure and sign-off quality across complex designs.
• Mentor junior engineers and help raise the team’s overall capability.

Preferred:

• Strong background in UVM-based verification at IP and subsystem levels.
• Proficiency in Python for tool development and automations.
• Practical formal verification experience, beyond app-based use.
• Knowledge of cryptographic algorithms (AES, SHA< ECC, etc.) and hardware/software security concepts.
• Software-oreinted thinking (C/C++ or scripting languages) for HW/SW co-verification.
• Demonstrated leadership in planning and executing verification projects.
• Self-driven, resourceful, and persistent when solving tough technical challenges.
• Excellent debugging and problem solving skills with strong attention to detail.

• Unparalleled opportunities to learn and accelerated career development.
• A collaborative, team environment with people who truly love what they do.
• Competitive salary and share option scheme.
• Flexible and hybrid working, and a working from home budget.
• Private health insurance for yourself and your family.
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays and two wellness weeks).
• The chance to work with a spirited, smart, and friendly team!

Interested? Apply today to be part of the future of secure hardware! 🚀

PQShield is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We’re passionate about talent and proud to foster an inclusive environment; all applicants will be considered regardless of their gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.