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GPU Accelerator Returns Debug Engineer - Job Opportunity at Advanced Micro Devices

Markham, Canada
Full-time
Senior
Posted: August 17, 2025
On-site
CAD 144,400 - 216,600 per year

Benefits

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge GPU technology that directly impacts data center, AI, PCs, gaming and embedded systems markets
Direct contribution to product quality and customer satisfaction initiatives with measurable business impact
Exposure to cross-functional collaboration with design, validation, firmware and manufacturing teams providing comprehensive industry experience
Access to advanced lab equipment and custom test tools for professional development in hardware validation
Leadership opportunities through stakeholder presentations to senior management
Professional development through continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization projects

Key Responsibilities

Drive critical product quality improvements by performing comprehensive PCBA-level failure analysis on customer and factory GPU failures, directly impacting company reputation and customer retention
Lead strategic failure reproduction initiatives through advanced DOE development and execution, reducing time-to-resolution for complex technical issues
Spearhead automation development and tooling creation to streamline testing processes and enhance analytical capabilities across the organization
Orchestrate cross-functional collaboration with internal teams and external manufacturers to accelerate root cause identification and implement corrective actions
Deliver executive-level technical documentation and failure analysis reports that inform strategic product development decisions
Champion continuous improvement initiatives in failure analysis processes, establishing industry best practices and operational procedures
Direct new product integration and test station setup for failure analysis operations, ensuring seamless product launch support

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in electrical or computer engineering preferred

Experience

Deep expertise in GPU architecture, including debug, validation, and stress/functional test development

Required Skills

Deep expertise in GPU architecture, including debug, validation, and stress/functional test development Skilled in using lab equipment (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, custom test tools) for hardware validation Strong background in PCBA diagnostics, failure analysis, and debug techniques, from NPI through production Proficient in Python, shell scripting, and working across Windows and Linux environments Solid understanding of firmware, drivers, and hardware interactions, with the ability to tune firmware as needed Extensive experience in hardware verification and system integration Familiarity with PCBA manufacturing processes and IPC-A-610 quality standards Hands-on experience assembling, installing, and configuring computer systems and servers Strong leadership, communication, documentation, and presentation skills Able to read schematics, interpret datasheets, identify components, and perform soldering/rework for debug Proficient in MS Excel for data analysis and reporting Knowledge of high-speed digital design, memory interfaces (HBM, GDDR), PCIe, and display outputs (DP, HDMI) Experience with GPU data center infrastructure and AI/ML technologies

Certifications

IPC-A-610 quality standards
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The semiconductor industry is experiencing unprecedented demand for GPU technology driven by AI/ML applications, data center expansion, and high-performance computing requirements. This trend is creating critical need for specialized debug engineers who can ensure product reliability in increasingly complex GPU architectures. The integration of AI workloads into enterprise infrastructure is pushing GPU manufacturers to maintain extremely high quality standards, making failure analysis expertise more valuable than ever. Advanced packaging technologies like HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) integration and multi-die GPU designs are creating new categories of failure modes that require sophisticated debug methodologies. Engineers with deep understanding of these advanced packaging technologies and associated failure analysis techniques are becoming increasingly sought after in the industry. The shift toward heterogeneous computing architectures combining CPUs, GPUs, and specialized accelerators is driving demand for engineers who understand system-level interactions and can debug complex multi-component failures. This trend is particularly evident in data center applications where GPU reliability directly impacts customer SLA commitments.

Salary Evaluation

The provided CAD 144,400 - 216,600 range translates to approximately USD 107,000 - 160,000 annually, which is highly competitive for senior-level hardware debug engineers in the Canadian market. This range reflects the specialized nature of GPU debug expertise and AMD's position as a tier-1 semiconductor company. The salary positioning indicates this role targets experienced professionals with 7-10+ years of relevant experience.

Role Significance

This role likely operates within a specialized quality engineering team of 8-12 engineers, collaborating across multiple cross-functional teams including design (15-20 engineers), validation (10-15 engineers), and manufacturing teams (20-30 engineers). The position serves as a technical focal point for failure analysis activities across these diverse groups.
This is a senior individual contributor role with significant technical leadership responsibilities. The position requires independent decision-making on complex technical issues, direct interaction with executive leadership, and influence over product quality strategies. The role combines deep technical expertise with business impact, typical of senior engineering positions that bridge technical execution and strategic outcomes.

Key Projects

Leading comprehensive failure analysis investigations for high-visibility customer escalations that could impact million-dollar contracts and long-term customer relationships Developing automated test methodologies for new GPU architectures that will be deployed across global manufacturing operations Implementing advanced debug techniques for next-generation GPU products featuring cutting-edge technologies like chiplet designs and advanced memory interfaces Establishing failure analysis best practices and procedures that will be adopted across AMD's global quality engineering organization

Success Factors

Deep technical mastery combined with strong analytical problem-solving skills to tackle complex, multi-variable failure scenarios that may have eluded other engineers. Success requires the ability to think systematically about complex hardware interactions while maintaining attention to microscopic failure details. Exceptional communication and collaboration abilities to work effectively with diverse technical teams and translate complex technical findings into actionable business recommendations. The role requires building consensus across multiple engineering disciplines and presenting findings to senior leadership. Proactive learning mindset to stay current with rapidly evolving GPU architectures, debug methodologies, and industry standards. The semiconductor industry's pace of innovation requires continuous skill development and adaptation to new technologies. Strong project management capabilities to handle multiple concurrent failure analysis investigations while maintaining quality standards and meeting customer commitments. Success requires balancing thoroughness with time-to-resolution requirements.

Market Demand

Very High - The explosive growth in AI/ML applications, data center GPU deployments, and gaming market expansion has created critical shortage of qualified GPU debug engineers. AMD's competition with NVIDIA in the accelerated computing space makes this role strategically important for maintaining product quality and market competitiveness.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

GPU architecture expertise is absolutely essential as this knowledge forms the foundation for understanding failure modes, debug approaches, and system interactions. Without deep GPU architecture understanding, it's impossible to effectively analyze complex failures or develop targeted test methodologies. This skill set is increasingly rare and valuable as GPU designs become more complex with features like multi-die architectures and advanced memory subsystems. PCBA-level debug and failure analysis capabilities are critical for this role's core responsibilities. These skills require years of hands-on experience with lab equipment, understanding of electronic failure modes, and systematic debugging approaches. The ability to perform physical failure analysis and root cause determination directly impacts customer satisfaction and product quality outcomes. Cross-functional collaboration and communication skills are essential for success in this role given the need to work with design teams, manufacturing partners, and customer-facing organizations. The ability to translate complex technical findings into actionable recommendations for diverse audiences is crucial for driving corrective actions and maintaining customer relationships.

Beneficial Skills

AI/ML technology understanding is increasingly valuable as GPU applications expand beyond traditional graphics into artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads. Engineers with this knowledge can better understand customer use cases and failure scenarios in emerging applications. Advanced memory interface knowledge (HBM, GDDR) provides significant advantage as modern GPU designs increasingly depend on high-bandwidth memory subsystems. Understanding these complex interfaces enables more effective debug of memory-related failures. Automation and scripting capabilities in Python and other languages enhance efficiency and enable development of scalable debug methodologies. These skills become more important as product complexity increases and manual debug approaches become insufficient.

Unique Aspects

This role offers direct exposure to cutting-edge GPU accelerator technologies used in AI/ML and data center applications, providing experience with some of the most advanced semiconductor products in the market. The position combines traditional hardware debug skills with emerging technologies like AI acceleration and heterogeneous computing.
The opportunity to work on customer escalations and external-facing failure analysis provides unique visibility into real-world deployment challenges and customer requirements, offering broader perspective beyond traditional internal engineering roles.
Direct collaboration with AMD's global engineering teams and contract manufacturers provides international exposure and understanding of global semiconductor supply chain operations.
The role's focus on continuous improvement and process development offers entrepreneurial opportunities to establish new methodologies and procedures that will be adopted across AMD's global operations.

Career Growth

Career progression to next level typically occurs within 3-5 years given the specialized nature of the role and AMD's growth trajectory. Advancement to management positions may occur within 2-4 years for candidates demonstrating strong leadership capabilities alongside technical expertise.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Staff GPU Debug Engineer with expanded scope covering multiple product lines and advanced debug methodology development Quality Engineering Manager leading teams of debug engineers and establishing organizational quality strategies Principal Engineer specializing in next-generation GPU architecture validation and debug methodology innovation Technical Program Manager for GPU Quality, coordinating quality initiatives across design, validation, and manufacturing organizations

Company Overview

Advanced Micro Devices

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is a Fortune 500 semiconductor company and a leading global technology company that designs and produces high-performance computing and graphics solutions. Founded in 1969, AMD has established itself as a major competitor to Intel in CPUs and to NVIDIA in GPUs, with significant market share in both consumer and enterprise markets. The company has experienced substantial growth in recent years, particularly in data center and AI/ML markets.

AMD holds a strong competitive position as the second-largest x86 processor manufacturer globally and a significant player in the GPU market. The company has gained substantial market share in recent years through innovative product launches and strategic positioning in high-growth markets like data center computing and AI acceleration. AMD's recent success in server processors and growing presence in GPU computing markets position it as a formidable competitor to industry leaders.
The Markham, Ontario location represents AMD's significant Canadian engineering presence, serving as a key development center for GPU technologies. This facility plays a crucial role in AMD's global engineering operations, with particular focus on graphics processing and accelerated computing solutions. The Canadian operation benefits from strong local talent pools from universities like University of Toronto and University of Waterloo, as well as favorable government policies supporting semiconductor development.
AMD emphasizes a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence with a mission to "build great products that accelerate next-generation computing experiences." The company promotes direct communication, humble leadership, and inclusive diverse perspectives. The engineering culture emphasizes pushing innovation boundaries while maintaining execution excellence, creating an environment where technical professionals can work on cutting-edge technologies that impact global computing infrastructure.
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