Failure Analysis Engineering Technician

Job Title

Failure Analysis Engineering Technician

Role Summary

Perform hands-on failure analysis of semiconductor devices and support day-to-day failure analysis (FA) lab operations across global FA sites. The role partners closely with Product, Design, Quality, and Foundry Engineering teams to identify root causes and drive corrective actions.

This is a lab-focused technician role that includes case ownership for FA investigations, tooling and logistics coordination, and basic facilities enablement.

Experience Level

Entry-level / Early Career. Position accepts candidates with hands-on lab or technician experience; minimum experience guidance available in Education Requirements.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include executing failure analysis, maintaining FA lab readiness, and coordinating logistics and facilities support.

• Execute failure analysis on semiconductor ICs and systems to identify electrical and physical failure causes.
• Act as case owner: manage investigation workflow, review test data logs, and summarize findings.
• Perform non-destructive analysis and imaging (e.g., X-ray, C-SAM, microscopy, curve tracing).
• Conduct electrical fault isolation and bench-level debugging to identify areas of interest.
• Perform physical analysis of packages, modules, or ICs when required and document root cause.
• Support FA hardware, tooling, fixtures, consumables, and lab equipment requests; confirm receipt and perform basic functionality checks.
• Coordinate international logistics and shipments of FA tools and materials; assist with documentation and vendor coordination.
• Submit and track facilities requests required to install or enable FA equipment (utilities, mounting, lab infrastructure).
• Provide clear status updates and collaborate with geographically distributed teams (San Diego, Tijuana, Singapore).

Requirements

Must-have technical skills, operational capabilities, and physical aptitude for lab work.

• Hands-on experience in semiconductor, test, lab, or hardware debug environments.
• Experience supporting failure analysis, test, or lab operations and tooling.
• Ability to manage multiple analysis cases and operational tasks concurrently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to report findings clearly to engineering teams.
• Ability to perform basic functionality and readiness checks on tools and equipment.
• Physical ability to frequently transport and install equipment weighing at least 25 lbs.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience with international logistics and vendor coordination related to FA tools and shipments.
• Familiarity with specific FA tools (X-ray, C-SAM, microscopy, curve tracers) and electrical fault isolation techniques.

Education Requirements

Associate's degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, Electronics, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field preferred; equivalent practical experience accepted. Alternatively, a High School diploma or equivalent with 1+ year of Engineering Technician or related work experience is acceptable.

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.