Design for Test (DFT) Engineer

Job Title

Design for Test (DFT) Engineer

Role Summary

Embedded with R&D product design engineers to ensure manufacturability and testability are built into products from concept through release. Acts as Manufacturing's advocate inside product design and supports the transition of designs into production test systems. Based in Boise, ID, with occasional travel to U.S. manufacturing sites.

Experience Level

Mid-level. The role expects several years of hands-on experience in electronics test development, board-level design, or a closely related discipline.

Responsibilities

Provide DFT leadership throughout the design cycle and ensure products are testable and manufacturable at scale.

• Partner with R&D product design engineers to provide DFT guidance from concept through release.
• Review schematics, board layouts, and system architectures for test access, coverage, and fault isolation (test points, boundary scan/JTAG, BIST, diagnostics).
• Develop and maintain DFT guidelines, standards, and design-rule checklists; assist teams with adoption.
• Model and estimate test coverage early to identify gaps before fabrication.
• Act as the interface between R&D and manufacturing/test engineering to ensure smooth transition to production test systems.
• Collaborate on test strategy and requirements for flying probe, bed-of-nails / in-circuit test (ICT), and functional test systems.
• Assist in developing flying probe and bed-of-nails ICT programs for SPEA 4080 and Keysight i3070 systems.
• Analyze production and field test data and feed lessons learned back into design practices and DFT standards.
• Evaluate and promote emerging DFT methods, tools, and technologies across the organization.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience to perform the role effectively.

Must-have

• Several years of hands-on experience in electronics test development, board-level design, or closely related work.
• Deep understanding of analog and digital electronics, schematics, and board-level layout considerations for test.
• Proven ability to influence design decisions and balance design and manufacturing needs.
• Experience collaborating across R&D and manufacturing teams to deliver production-ready designs.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to quality and manufacturability.

Nice-to-have

• Direct experience with DFT practices, test coverage analysis, or design-for-manufacturability.
• Hands-on experience with boundary scan/JTAG, built-in self-test, ICT, flying probe, or bed-of-nails systems.
• Familiarity with power systems protection products or related domain knowledge.
• Exposure to programming (Python, C) or firmware development for embedded test/self-test.

Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering or in Electronics Engineering Technology, or equivalent practical experience. Equivalent experience or related technical credentials are acceptable as stated in the posting.

About the Company

Company: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Headquarters: Pullman, WA, USA

Designs and manufactures protection, control, automation, and communications products and services for electric power systems. Provides engineering, testing, and consulting solutions to utilities and industrial customers. Employee-owned company focused on power system reliability and safety.