Senior Characterization & Reliability Engineer — Power Semiconductors

Job Title

Senior Characterization & Reliability Engineer — Power Semiconductors

Role Summary

Senior engineer responsible for electrical characterization and reliability testing of vertical GaN power devices, supporting on-wafer and packaged device test campaigns to enable product commercialization. The role sits on the device/test engineering team and works closely with semiconductor device engineers, PCB designers, and external partners.

Primary focus: measurement development, qualification testing, data analysis and automation to drive device datasheet development and reliability qualifications for medium-voltage power applications.

Experience Level

Senior level. Preferred 5+ years of relevant industry experience; advanced degree expected or equivalent industry experience.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include hands-on device characterization, test development, and reliability evaluation.

• Develop and execute on-wafer electrical measurements (IV, CV, pulsed IV, gate charge) using high-voltage instrumentation and semiautomatic probe stations.
• Design and build test circuits and PCB fixtures for packaged-device switching tests, UIS, and reliability stress setups.
• Plan and run JEDEC-style qualification tests (HTRB, HTGB, TDDB, thermal cycling) and analyze results to determine failure modes and margins.
• Automate measurement sequences and data collection; implement analysis workflows for parameter extraction and datasheet metrics.
• Perform schematic entry, circuit simulation, and PCB layout for measurement and reliability test boards.
• Collaborate with device engineers to interpret measurement data, refine device/process targets, and support product release activities.
• Document test methods, results, and recommended qualification criteria for medium-voltage power applications.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship on characterization and reliability practices within a fast-paced startup environment.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for immediate success in the role.

• Must: Proven experience with electrical characterization of power devices (IV, CV, pulsed IV, gate charge) and use of high-voltage test instrumentation and curve tracers.
• Must: Experience with on-wafer probing workflows and semiautomatic probe stations.
• Must: Ability to design and validate PCB test fixtures and switching boards for packaged devices.
• Must: Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools for measurement automation and data analysis.
• Must: Experience with schematic entry, circuit simulation, and PCB layout tools.
• Must: Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.
• Nice-to-have: Prior experience with power circuit design for GaN or SiC and switching performance testing.
• Nice-to-have: Startup or rapid-productization experience and ability to take high ownership of projects.

Education Requirements

Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering (focus on power device design/characterization) preferred, or at least 5+ years of relevant industry experience. Relevant device experience includes GaN HEMTs, SiC MOSFETs, or Si IGBTs and work on medium-voltage (600–1200 V) power applications. Equivalent practical experience considered.

About the Company

Company: Vertical Semiconductor

Headquarters: Somerville, MA, USA

Venture-backed MIT spin-out developing vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power semiconductors and system-level solutions for high-performance power conversion, targeting next-generation compute and AI applications.