Advanced Node Process and Yield Diagnostics Engineer, Staff
QualcommJob Title
Advanced Node Process and Yield Diagnostics Engineer, Staff
Role Summary
Staff-level engineer responsible for driving yield learning, process optimization, and root-cause analysis for advanced-node semiconductor products (3nm, 2nm and beyond). Works cross-functionally with foundries, process integration, product engineering, test, design, failure analysis and quality teams to identify yield limiters and accelerate yield ramp from NPI to HVM.
Experience Level
Senior (Staff). Guidance: typically 5+ years of semiconductor industry experience; role expects an experienced engineer with demonstrated yield/processing expertise.
Responsibilities
Accountable for diagnostics, analytics, and cross-functional actions to improve manufacturing yield and product robustness.
- Perform process and yield diagnostics across wafer fabrication, wafer sort, final test, and system validation.
- Investigate yield loss using electrical test data, scan diagnosis, defect inspection, PCM, inline metrology, and failure analysis.
- Correlate process, product, and test data to determine root causes and recommend corrective actions.
- Partner with foundry and process integration teams to drive process optimization and yield improvement.
- Monitor yield performance; develop dashboards, KPIs, and automated reporting for manufacturing health.
- Support NPI with yield risk assessments, characterization, and early silicon learning.
- Apply statistical analysis, data mining, and predictive modeling for capacity planning and forecasting.
- Drive continuous improvement via automation and AI/ML-based yield solutions.
Requirements
Key technical skills, domain experience, and tools required. (Education and degree-level experience summarized separately in Education Requirements.)
- 5+ years semiconductor industry experience in Process Integration, Yield Engineering, Product Engineering, Technology Development, or Yield Diagnostics (typical expectation).
- Hands-on experience with advanced technology nodes (3nm, 2nm, or equivalent) and yield ramp activities.
- Strong understanding of fabrication processes: lithography, etch, deposition, CMP, device integration, and interconnects.
- Experience in process-yield correlation, failure diagnostics, and manufacturing data analytics.
- Familiarity with digital product architecture, DFT methodologies, and semiconductor test flows.
- Proficiency with data-analysis tools such as JMP, Yield Explorer, Python, SQL, Excel, and Power BI (or similar).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to lead complex root-cause investigations and communicate results across global teams.
- Nice-to-have: experience with PCM structures, inline defect monitoring, metrology systems, scan diagnosis tools, and applying ML/AI to yield analytics; proven HVM yield improvement record.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Semiconductor Physics, Materials Science, or a related technical field. Posting specifies degree-based experience alternatives: Bachelor's +6 years, Master's +5 years, or Ph.D. +4 years of relevant ASIC/design/verification/validation/integration or related industry experience.
About the Company
Company: Qualcomm
Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States
Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.
