Failure Analysis Engineer

Job Title

Failure Analysis Engineer

Role Summary

Perform failure analysis of semiconductor IC devices to identify physical root causes using electrical fault isolation and physical analysis tools. Collaborate with Product, Design, Quality and Foundry engineering teams to analyze failures, summarize findings, and recommend corrective actions.

Work is laboratory- and debug-focused across module, package and IC levels, and requires coordination with cross-functional, multinational teams.

Experience Level

Mid-level. See Education Requirements for degree-dependent experience guidance (typical range: 1–2+ years of chip/wafer-level failure analysis or equivalent experience).

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include ownership of failure-analysis cases, application of electrical and physical analysis techniques, and reporting of root causes and corrective actions.

• Perform failure analyses on complex issues and manage multiple cases in parallel as case owner.
• Apply advanced failure-analysis techniques (physical failure analysis, electrical microscopy, nanoprobing) to localize and identify defects.
• Administer non-destructive imaging and inspection (X-ray, C-SAM, optical inspection) and document evidence.
• Perform hands-on electrical fault isolation using static laser techniques (XIVA, OBIRCh), photoemission microscopy, Lock‑In thermal microscopy, and related optical/localization methods.
• Use advanced electrical isolation and stimulation (dynamic laser stimulation, thermal/photonic fault injection) and interface with automated test equipment and bench test platforms for functional debug.
• Conduct physical failure analysis on modules, packages and individual ICs where single-device analysis is required.
• Document analysis results, report identified root causes, and deliver conclusions and corrective-action recommendations to stakeholders.

Requirements

Concise list of must-have and nice-to-have technical skills and work conditions. Degree requirements and degree-dependent experience guidance are listed under Education Requirements below.

• Must-have: Hands-on experience with electrical fault isolation and optical localization techniques (e.g., laser-based isolation, photo/thermal emission, OBIRCH/TIVA).
• Must-have: Proficiency with physical analysis and inspection methods (SEM inspection, mechanical polishing, chemical delayering, EBIC/EBAC/EBIRCH nanoprobing).
• Must-have: Experience with tester interfaces and ATE-related fault localization (Soft Defect Localization, Laser Voltage Probing, frequency/time-resolved emission, thermal mapping).
• Must-have: Familiarity with reliability and qualification testing (CDM, HBM, TLP, HTOL, BHAST, BURN-IN) and semiconductor fabrication/process fundamentals.
• Must-have: Ability to work in a laboratory environment, strong communication, organization and project-management skills, and flexibility to work weekend or night shifts.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with SEM-based nano-probing on planar, SOI and FinFET technologies and familiarity with SCAN logic, Memory BIST and RF/Analog design strategies.
• Nice-to-have: Experience with data analysis and automation tools; programming/scripting experience (Python, scripting, Power BI).
• Nice-to-have: Semiconductor industry failure analysis experience and experience integrating with cross-functional teams and foundries.

Education Requirements

Degree and equivalent-experience guidance: Bachelor's degree (Science, Engineering, or related) with 2+ years of chip/wafer-level failure analysis experience, OR Master's degree (Science, Engineering, or related) with 1+ year of chip/wafer-level failure analysis experience, OR PhD in Science, Engineering, or related field. The posting allows equivalent practical experience in lieu of a degree. Preferred fields: Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics, Physics. The posting also specifies 1+ year of working experience in a physical/chemical laboratory setting.

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.