Principal Foundry Technologist

Job Title

Principal Foundry Technologist

Role Summary

Lead foundry and advanced packaging technical activities to enable Microsoft first- and second-party silicon for cloud infrastructure. The role reports into Compute Silicon & Manufacturing Engineering (CSME) and focuses on manufacturability, yield, performance, and technology enablement for Microsoft cloud hardware.

Experience Level

Senior / Principal. See Education Requirements for degree-to-experience guidance (examples: PhD +3 years, MS +6 years, BS +8 years) or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include technical leadership with foundries, manufacturing enablement, and data-driven yield improvement.

• Lead technical interactions with external foundries during pre-silicon design, post-silicon development, and manufacturing ramp to ensure high yield and performance.
• Compile, analyze, and present manufacturing and test data using statistical techniques; recommend corrective actions and process improvements.
• Define and design testchip structures and data collection methods for technology interception, characterization, and modeling.
• Provide Power, Performance, Area and Cost (PPAC) analysis for technology enablement and decision making.
• Assess architecture and system requirements and provide technical recommendations on manufacturability and readiness.

Requirements

Must-have compliance and technical capabilities; preferred skills listed below.

• Must-have: Ability to pass Microsoft Cloud Background Check and meet other Microsoft security screening requirements.
• Must-have: Eligibility to access export-controlled information; ability to provide proof of citizenship or lawful status when required by export control regulations.
• Must-have: Demonstrated experience working with foundries and semiconductor manufacturing including yield improvement and manufacturability analysis.
• Must-have: Strong data-analysis and model-based problem-solving skills using statistical methods to drive yield and reliability improvements.
• Nice-to-have: Experience in testchip design, PDK/IP support, tapeout, DFM/DFT and implementing test structures.
• Nice-to-have: Familiarity with device-level measurements, modeling/simulation and EDA tools (Cadence, Calibre, Synopsys, Siemens).
• Nice-to-have: Experience with product/test engineering, ATE methodologies, coding (Python, Java, C++), and applying AI/ML to data analysis.
• Nice-to-have: Experience leading cross-functional teams and program/project management.

Education Requirements

Doctorate (PhD) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field with 3+ years technical engineering experience; OR Master’s degree in those fields with 6+ years experience; OR Bachelor’s degree in those fields with 8+ years experience; OR equivalent practical experience. Fields referenced: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical disciplines.

About the Company

Company: Microsoft

Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States

Microsoft is a global technology company that develops and sells software, services, devices, and solutions. Known for its Windows operating system, Office suite, and Azure cloud platform, Microsoft aims to empower individuals and organizations around the world to achieve more. The company fosters a culture of innovation and inclusion, focusing on delivering trusted experiences to customers and partners globally.