Entry Level SOC Lead Jobs
New grad soc lead jobs open doors for recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong portfolio or hands-on internship work can carry more weight than a lengthy resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Electronics & Hardware, Technology & Software, and Telecommunications, with employers like Qualcomm, Apple, and TikTok hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 16+ Entry Level SOC Lead jobs
SUMMARY
Do you love crafting sophisticated solutions to highly sophisticated challenges? Do you intrinsically see the importance in every detail? As part of our Silicon Technologies group, you’ll help design and manufacture our next-generation, high-performance, power-efficient processor, system-on-chip (SoC). You’ll ensure Apple products and services can seamlessly and efficiently handle the tasks that make them beloved by millions. Joining this group means you’ll be responsible for crafting and building the technology that fuels Apple’s devices. Together, you and your team will enable our customers to do all the things they love with their devices. In this highly visible role, you will be at the center of a semiconductor design effort collaborating with all subject areas, with a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers quickly.
DESCRIPTION
As a DFT engineer we are involved with the complete DFT solution for a design project, you will have responsibilities spanning all aspects of semiconductor design.
- Developing and implementing DFT architecture
- Implementing DFT infrastructure
- Working with the DV team to verify DFT implementations and implement ECOs
- Generating structural test vectors and analyzing and improving coverage
- Working with designers on STA, physical, power and logical issues
- Working with test engineers to bring up test vectors on silicon
- Running schedules and supporting multi-functional engineering efforts
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BS with a minimum of 0 years relevant industry experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge about industrial standards and practices in DFT, including ATPG, JTAG, MBIST and trade-offs between test quality and test time.
- Experience developing DFT specifications and driving DFT architecture and methods for designs.
- Knowledge of Verilog and/or VHDL, and experience with simulators and waveform debugging tools.
- Knowledge of industry standards for DFT and design tools.
- Proven understanding of design verification (DV) methodologies for validating DFT implementation in simulation pre-silicon.
- Experience in debugging Compressed ATPG patterns, MBIST, and JTAG/1500 related issues.
- Experience with STA constraints development and analysis for DFT modes and SDF simulations.
- Ability to conduct experiments during silicon debug, gathering and analyzing data; and use scripting to support efficient handling of ATE data.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
Do you love crafting sophisticated solutions to highly sophisticated challenges? Do you intrinsically see the importance in every detail? As part of our Silicon Technologies group, you’ll help design and manufacture our next-generation, high-performance, power-efficient processor, system-on-chip (SoC). You’ll ensure Apple products and services can seamlessly and efficiently handle the tasks that make them beloved by millions. Joining this group means you’ll be responsible for crafting and building the technology that fuels Apple’s devices. Together, you and your team will enable our customers to do all the things they love with their devices. In this highly visible role, you will be at the center of a semiconductor design effort collaborating with all subject areas, with a critical impact on getting functional products to millions of customers quickly.
DESCRIPTION
As a DFT engineer we are involved with the complete DFT solution for a design project, you will have responsibilities spanning all aspects of semiconductor design.
- Developing and implementing DFT architecture
- Implementing DFT infrastructure
- Working with the DV team to verify DFT implementations and implement ECOs
- Generating structural test vectors and analyzing and improving coverage
- Working with designers on STA, physical, power and logical issues
- Working with test engineers to bring up test vectors on silicon
- Running schedules and supporting multi-functional engineering efforts
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- BS with a minimum of 0 years relevant industry experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Knowledge about industrial standards and practices in DFT, including ATPG, JTAG, MBIST and trade-offs between test quality and test time.
- Experience developing DFT specifications and driving DFT architecture and methods for designs.
- Knowledge of Verilog and/or VHDL, and experience with simulators and waveform debugging tools.
- Knowledge of industry standards for DFT and design tools.
- Proven understanding of design verification (DV) methodologies for validating DFT implementation in simulation pre-silicon.
- Experience in debugging Compressed ATPG patterns, MBIST, and JTAG/1500 related issues.
- Experience with STA constraints development and analysis for DFT modes and SDF simulations.
- Ability to conduct experiments during silicon debug, gathering and analyzing data; and use scripting to support efficient handling of ATE data.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
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Entry Level SOC Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level soc lead job?
Start by building hands-on experience through internships, volunteer IT roles, or home lab projects that demonstrate practical security skills. Entry level employers look for foundational knowledge of SIEM tools, incident response concepts, and network monitoring. Certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CySA+ signal readiness when professional experience is limited. A concise portfolio documenting what you have built or investigated can set you apart from other early-career applicants.
Which companies hire entry level soc leads?
Companies hiring entry level soc leads right now include Qualcomm, Apple, and TikTok, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level comes from a wide range of organizations, including managed security service providers, healthcare systems, financial institutions, and technology firms that run internal security operations centers and need junior talent to grow into lead roles.
Are there remote entry level soc lead jobs?
Yes, though on-site roles remain common for candidates building foundational skills. About 14% of entry level soc lead openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting demand from employers who have distributed security teams. Hybrid arrangements are especially common at larger organizations that want new analysts present for mentorship and hands-on tool training while still offering schedule flexibility.
Are these new grad soc lead jobs?
Yes, many of these openings are new grad friendly. A posting that welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internships or academic projects in place of professional history, or lists a portfolio as an acceptable substitute for a long resume is a strong signal it is open to new grad and recent graduate applicants. Junior soc analyst or junior soc lead titles are another clear indicator the role is designed for candidates just entering the field.
Which industries hire the most entry level soc leads?
Entry Level soc lead roles concentrate in Electronics & Hardware, Technology & Software, and Telecommunications, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors tend to drive hiring at this level because they handle sensitive data at scale, face significant regulatory compliance requirements, and need to build out junior security talent pipelines to support growing operations center teams.