Staff Engineer - DFT

Job Title

Staff Engineer - DFT

Role Summary

Senior hardware engineer focused on design-for-test (DFT) and hardware validation for advanced ASICs and systems. Works on planning, design, verification, bring-up, and test of electronic systems and components across digital, analog, RF, FPGA, and DSP domains.

Collaborates with cross-functional teams to improve yield, reduce test time, and meet product performance and reliability targets.

Experience Level

Senior - preferred 8+ years of hardware engineering experience. Minimum experience expectations vary by qualification and role scope.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include technical leadership of complex hardware and DFT activities, independent execution of designs and validation, and cross-team coordination.

• Plan, design, optimize, verify, and test electronic systems and circuits (digital, analog, RF, optical) and supporting test systems.
• Integrate complex features into hardware designs to meet power, performance, and area targets.
• Perform complex simulations, analyses, and implement designs with a focus on DFT and testability.
• Lead bring-up and yield improvement efforts; develop and incorporate test solutions into production programs.
• Evaluate and characterize manufacturing processes, materials, and reliability; drive automation and optimization to improve productivity.
• Identify design flaws, compatibility, and compliance issues; recommend corrective actions.
• Produce detailed technical documentation and provide guidance to other engineers.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and experience for successful performance in this role.

• Several years of hands-on hardware engineering experience working on ASICs, SoCs, or complex electronic systems.
• Experience with circuit design and schematic capture and circuit simulation tools.
• Experience using hardware design and measurement instruments (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, RF tools, etc.) for validation and debug.
• Experience in yield bring-up, test development, and manufacturing support for advanced processes.
• Proven ability to collaborate across design, verification, validation, software, and systems teams.
• Experience writing technical documentation and conveying complex technical information verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and provide technical guidance to team members.
• Nice-to-have: experience with ATPG/DFT flows, ASIC design-for-test methodologies, FPGA/DSP experience, RF experience, and prior technical leadership (with or without direct reports).

Education Requirements

Degrees: Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field. The posting specifies degree-based minimum experience: Bachelor’s +4 years, Master’s +3 years, or PhD +2 years of relevant hardware engineering experience; equivalent related work experience is accepted as an alternative. Master's degree is listed as preferred.

About the Company

Company: Qualcomm

Headquarters: San Diego, California, United States

Qualcomm is a global leader in semiconductor and telecommunications equipment, specializing in mobile technologies and innovations. Known for its Adreno GPUs, the company provides solutions enabling advancements in mobile gaming, AI, VR/AR, and autonomous driving. Qualcomm's cutting-edge technology and commitment to high-performance, power-efficient designs drive the evolution of mobile graphics and connectivity worldwide.