Senior Staff Engineer, Characterisation

Job Title

Senior Staff Engineer, Characterisation

Role Summary

Lead characterisation engineering activities for advanced high-speed signal integrity products across optical and electrical semiconductor technologies. Work within Semtech's Signal Integrity Products group to plan and execute bench PVT characterisation, develop automated test solutions, analyze datasets, and collaborate with cross-functional international teams to support New Product Introduction (NPI) and product release.

Experience Level

Senior — typically requires 5–10 years of relevant industry experience in semiconductor, signal integrity, or high-speed electronics development environments.

Responsibilities

Primary duties include planning and executing characterisation campaigns, building automated test environments, analysing results, and supporting product quality and release.

• Lead planning and execution of characterisation for assigned NPI products: test plans, scheduling, equipment selection, hardware setup, and fixture design.
• Develop, validate and maintain robust automated test environments and test scripts; bring up test systems and ensure repeatability.
• Execute test plans, perform real-time analysis of results, and generate detailed technical reports.
• Generate and manage large, complex datasets; analyse data to identify performance, yield, and reliability issues.
• Design and integrate test hardware and fixtures; work with PCB and signal integrity requirements for high-frequency designs.
• Mentor junior engineers and share technical expertise within the team.
• Contribute to automation, process improvement, and adoption of tools (including AI) to increase engineering efficiency.

Requirements

Core technical skills and experience required for successful performance in this role.

Must-have:

• 5–10 years industry experience in semiconductor, signal integrity, or high-speed electronics development.
• Strong experience with signal integrity testing for high-speed analogue silicon products.
• Hands-on experience developing automation solutions using Python or similar languages.
• Practical knowledge of PCB design fundamentals for high-frequency, high-data-rate applications.
• Experience in laboratory environments with advanced electronic test equipment and hardware integration.
• Proven ability to generate, manage, and analyse large and complex engineering datasets.
• Excellent debugging, troubleshooting, and analytical problem-solving skills.

Nice-to-have:

• Experience characterising high-speed optical or electrical semiconductor products.
• Familiarity with high-frequency measurement techniques and signal integrity analysis methodologies.
• Experience developing automated test equipment and integrating hardware and fixtures.
• Experience working within global, cross-functional engineering teams.
• Strong technical communication, organisation, and execution skills under tight schedules.
• Interest or experience applying AI-based tools to engineering workflows and automation efficiency initiatives.

Education Requirements

BEng or MEng in Electronic Engineering or a closely related discipline.

About the Company

Company: Semtech

Headquarters: Camarillo, California, USA

Semtech Corporation is a high-performance semiconductor company providing IoT systems and Cloud connectivity solutions. The company focuses on delivering innovative technology solutions that support a smarter, more connected, and sustainable planet, with a dedication to quality across infrastructure, industrial, and consumer markets.