Board -Up Specialist; Validation Engineering

About Etched

Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers, delivering over 10× higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than leading GPU-based systems. Our ASIC-based platform enables entirely new classes of applications—such as real-time video generation and deep, parallel chain-of-thought reasoning—that are impractical on GPUs. Backed by top-tier investors and built by world-class engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest-growing industry in history.

Etched is building the world’s first AI inference system purpose-built for transformers, delivering over 10× higher performance and dramatically lower cost and latency than leading GPU-based systems. Our ASIC-based platform enables entirely new classes of applications—such as real-time video generation and deep, parallel chain-of-thought reasoning—that are impractical on GPUs. Backed by top-tier investors and built by world-class engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest-growing industry in history.

We are looking for a Junior Systems Validation & Bring-Up Engineer to support the validation, testing, and early bring-up of Etched’s cutting-edge hardware systems. This role is ideal for new grads or early-career engineers who want deep, hands-on exposure to real hardware in a fast-moving environment.

You will work closely with electrical, systems, and firmware engineers to execute validation tests, assist with system bring-up, debug basic hardware issues, and collect high-quality data that drives design decisions. This is a lab-focused, engineering-oriented role with significant opportunities to grow into deeper validation or systems engineering responsibilities.

• Support system and board-level bring-up by executing validation and smoke tests on prototype hardware
• Run validation test plans to verify functionality, performance, and reliability of boards, subsystems, and full systems
• Assist engineers with basic debugging and root-cause analysis, including checking power rails, signals, connections, firmware loads, and configuration issues
• Use lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, and thermal tools to capture measurements and debug issues
• Set up and maintain test environments, including cabling, fixtures, instrumentation, and logging tools
• Collect, organize, and document test results, failures, and observations clearly so engineers can act on them quickly
• Collaborate closely with EE, systems, firmware, and validation engineers to support rapid hardware iteration
• Help improve test coverage, validation procedures, and lab workflows as designs evolve

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Engineering Technology
• Exposure to hardware validation, bring-up, or debugging
• Familiarity with common electronics lab equipment (oscilloscope, multimeter, power supply, logic analyzer, etc.)
• Basic understanding of: electronic devices and circuits; power delivery and sequencing; digital interfaces and signals; system-level hardware debugging concepts
• Ability to follow test procedures, run experiments carefully, and collect accurate data
• Strong documentation and communication skills—able to clearly explain what was tested and what was observed
• Hands-on mindset with eagerness to learn and work directly with physical hardware

• Internship or project experience with board bring-up, system validation, or lab automation
• Exposure to Linux systems, scripting, or test software
• Familiarity with high-speed interfaces, servers, or data-center hardware (coursework is fine)
• Experience debugging hardware issues in a team setting
• Course work in the following:
  Relevant Coursework (ECE / EE)
  • Core Electronics
  • Electronic Devices (Diodes, BJTs, MOSFETs)
  • Linear Integrated Circuits (Op-Amps, Regulators, Comparators)
  • Embedded Systems & Programming
  • Embedded Systems / Embedded Microcontrollers
• C / C++ / Python Programming, for Embedded Systems
• Test, Measurement &…