Staff Silicon Test Engineer
QualcommJob Title
Staff Silicon Test Engineer
Role Summary
Member of Qualcomm Product Development and Test Engineering responsible for silicon validation, characterization, and production test deployment for advanced FinFET 5G IPs. Work closely with IC Design, Software, Systems and Operations to enable high-volume manufacturability.
Primary focus: operate automated test equipment (ATE), develop test hardware/software, debug silicon, characterize across process/voltage/temperature corners, and release cost-effective production test solutions.
Experience Level
Level: Senior / Staff. Typical experience expectations align with the minimum qualifications (see Education Requirements) and practical experience in hardware/product test and production deployment.
Responsibilities
Core responsibilities include silicon bring-up, validation, and production test readiness.
- Operate and program Automated Test Equipment (ATE) to validate and debug new silicon.
- Develop test hardware and embedded/host software for characterization and production testing.
- Characterize devices across process, voltage and temperature corners and across product modes.
- Design and release cost-effective production test solutions for high-volume manufacturing.
- Collaborate with IC design, software, systems and operations teams to resolve failures and improve test coverage.
- Use measurement instruments (oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, logic analyzers, etc.) to collect and analyze test data.
- Document test plans, results, and provide actionable recommendations to improve yield and manufacturability.
Requirements
Must-have technical experience and core skills; education details are in the Education Requirements section below.
- Multiple years of hands-on experience in hardware engineering, silicon test, product validation, or production test activities (staff level typically has several years of relevant experience).
- Experience with test automation, test program development, and debug workflows for SOCs and complex IP blocks.
- Proficiency with measurement instruments and bench equipment for RF, analog and digital validation.
- Programming or scripting experience (Python, C++, Java, embedded code) for test automation and data analysis.
- Familiarity with design-for-test (DFT) techniques such as Scan/ATPG, JTAG, and memory BIST is desirable.
- Experience with data analysis tools and methodologies for characterization and yield improvement.
- Nice-to-have: experience with Advantest or Teradyne ATE, schematic capture and circuit simulation tools, CPU/SoC architecture, high-speed SerDes, memories (SRAM/DRAM interfaces), ADC/DAC/PLL/analog blocks, and microcontroller/ARM platforms.
- Physical: ability to move equipment up to ~5 lbs, work at benches for extended periods, and frequent short transports between labs/campuses.
Education Requirements
Minimum options stated by employer: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Engineering, or related field with 4+ years of hardware engineering or related experience; OR Master's degree in those fields with 3+ years' experience; OR PhD in those fields with 2+ years' experience. Preferred mention: Master’s degree in Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronica, Computer Science or related fields. Fields referenced include Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science and related technical disciplines.
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.
