Senior Director - DFT

Job Title

Senior Director - DFT

Role Summary

Lead DFT architecture, methodology, and implementation for next-generation FPGA products and build the DFT engineering team. Serve as the technical authority for DFT across design, silicon, validation, and manufacturing to improve test readiness, accelerate bring-up, and drive yield improvements.

Experience Level

Senior - requires extensive experience. Position specifies 15+ years in semiconductor engineering with 12+ years of hands-on DFT development; reduced years specified for advanced degrees (see Education Requirements).

Responsibilities

The role combines technical leadership, cross-functional coordination, and people management to deliver scalable DFT solutions from specification through production.

• Define and drive DFT architecture, methodology, and implementation strategy across product lifecycles (specification → tapeout → silicon bring-up → production).
• Act as technical authority and subject-matter expert for DFT; guide complex decisions and mentor engineering staff.
• Specify DFT strategies for key FPGA subsystems: programmable logic, embedded memories, hardened IP, configuration infrastructure, and high-speed I/O.
• Design hierarchical and multi-die DFT architectures for chiplet and 2.5D/3D-packaged products, including die-to-die interface test and streaming scan approaches.
• Collaborate with RTL, physical design, verification, silicon validation, product engineering, manufacturing, and test teams to embed DFT requirements.
• Drive improvements in test readiness, coverage, fault detection, test efficiency, and reduce bring-up time via architecture, automation, and debug capabilities.
• Lead technical resolution of post-silicon DFT issues: pattern bring-up, failure diagnosis, correlation, and yield improvement.
• Identify and evaluate emerging DFT technologies and standards; influence technical roadmaps and vendor/EDA strategies.
• Build and manage a DFT engineering team: hiring, technical coaching, performance management, and resource planning across programs.
• Define and track DFT metrics (test coverage, bring-up time, test efficiency, yield) and present recommendations to senior leadership.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and leadership experience; preferred items listed separately.

• Must-have: Deep, hands-on expertise in DFT architecture and implementation, including scan, test compression, ATPG, MBIST/BISR, boundary-scan, DFT verification, and silicon bring-up/debug on complex ASIC/SoC/FPGA products.
• Proven experience with commercial ATPG and DFT insertion tools and industry standards (examples cited: Tessent, Modus; IEEE 1149.1, IEEE 1687/IJTAG, IEEE 1838).
• Proven record of improving silicon bring-up, test readiness, test coverage, manufacturing test, or product yield through DFT interventions.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation for DFT flows (Python, TCL, and/or Perl).
• Experience leading engineers or technical teams, including hiring, mentoring, and influencing cross-functional architecture and methodology.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor manufacturing, test, yield, and product development processes and excellent cross-functional communication skills.
• Nice-to-have: FPGA-specific DFT experience (programmable fabric, configuration memory, SerDes); experience with production ATE platforms (Advantest V93000, Teradyne UltraFLEX); advanced process technology and multi-generation product experience; external recognition (patents, publications, standards participation).

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is required, with 15+ years in semiconductor engineering including substantial DFT experience. The posting specifies alternate experience levels for advanced degrees: 13+ years with a Master's degree, or 10+ years with a PhD.

About the Company

Company: Altera

Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Altera provides leadership programmable solutions for applications ranging from cloud to edge, unveiling limitless AI possibilities. Their extensive product portfolio includes FPGAs, CPLDs, Intellectual Property, development tools, and System on Modules aimed at accelerating innovation in various fields.