Competitive Analysis Engineer
QualcommJob Title
Competitive Analysis Engineer
Role Summary
Hands-on role performing mechanical, chemical and ion-beam deprocessing and advanced sample preparation and microscopy to analyze packaging and microelectronics across multiple semiconductor technologies (planar CMOS, FinFET, SOI, GaAs, SiGe, etc.).
Work within a hardware engineering team to determine mechanical and elemental build-up of devices, produce clear documentation and reports, and identify trends in fabrication and packaging methods.
Experience Level
Mid-level. Preferred: approximately 2 years of laboratory experience; minimum: Bachelor's degree (see Education Requirements).
Responsibilities
Primary responsibilities include analytical deprocessing, sample preparation, microscopy, analysis, and reporting.
- Perform mechanical, chemical, and ion-beam deprocessing of microelectronic devices and packages.
- Prepare samples (mechanical polishing, wet chemistry, TEM lamella) and operate dual-beam systems for cross-sectioning and analysis.
- Operate and analyze results from EDS, STEM/TEM, optical microscopy and X-ray imaging to determine elemental and structural composition.
- Investigate packaging and semiconductor technologies to derive mechanical and elemental build-up.
- Document findings, prepare technical reports, and present simplified summaries to stakeholders.
- Identify trends across devices and build datasets on evolving fabrication and packaging techniques.
Requirements
Must-have technical skills and experience. Degree and field expectations are listed under Education Requirements.
- Hands-on experience with mechanical and chemical sample preparation of microelectronics and dual-beam analysis.
- Experience using EDS and STEM/TEM and conducting optical measurements.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear documentation and information sharing.
- Ability to develop and adapt sample-preparation techniques for unique package formats.
Nice-to-have:
- Microscopy, X-ray imaging, TEM lamella prep, wet chemistry, photography, additive manufacturing, laser ablation, reactive ion etching.
- Familiarity with semiconductor design and failure analysis techniques.
- Experience with lab/software tools and disciplined report writing.
Education Requirements
Required: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or a related field. Preferred: degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or similar. The posting also cites roughly 2 years of laboratory experience as preferred.
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.
