Principal Failure Analysis Engineer

Job Title

Principal Failure Analysis Engineer

Role Summary

Lead failure analysis activities for power-management semiconductor products at Renesas' Palm Bay, FL site. Focus on electrical and physical root-cause isolation, characterization, and clear technical reporting to support product quality and reliability, including power requirements for AI applications.

Experience Level

Senior — typically 10–15 years' experience in semiconductor device failure analysis or equivalent practical experience.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include hands-on failure investigations, isolation, and communication of findings.

• Lead and execute failure analysis investigations for power-management devices and systems.
• Use bench equipment to reproduce faults and characterize electrical symptoms.
• Perform electrical isolation and physical analysis to identify root causes.
• Operate package and non-destructive inspection tools such as curve tracer, X-ray, and SAM.
• Apply image-based isolation techniques: photon emission microscopy, OBIRCH, thermal emission.
• Perform deprocessing and sample-preparation techniques (wet chemistry, polishing, plasma).
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and layouts to guide analysis strategies.
• Document results and present clear technical reports to cross-functional teams.

Requirements

Must-have skills, experience, and constraints.

• 10–15 years' experience in semiconductor device failure analysis or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated failure analysis experience with power management products.
• Proven experience with electrical isolation and physical failure analysis techniques.
• Practical understanding of diodes and transistors and use of electrical characterization equipment.
• Familiarity with package inspection and non-destructive methods (curve tracer, X-ray, SAM).
• Experience with image-based isolation tools (photon emission microscopy, OBIRCH, thermal emission).
• Experience in deprocessing techniques and sample preparation workflows.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to manage multiple tasks and work collaboratively.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States; Renesas will not sponsor work visas for this position.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering is required; equivalent practical experience is noted as acceptable in the source.

About the Company

Company: Renesas

Headquarters: Hitachinaka, Japan

Renesas is a global leader in embedded semiconductor solutions, providing high-quality products across automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT sectors. With over 22,000 employees in more than 30 countries, the company focuses on scalable solutions that enhance user experience and drive innovation while committed to sustainability and energy efficiency.