Senior Yield Engineer

Draper; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 82,300 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness programs

Employee clubs

Workshops on health and finance

Off-site social events

Discounts to local museums

Job summary

Draper in Cambridge, MA seeks a Senior Yield Engineer to establish a unified yield strategy across the MEMS facility, from new product introduction to mature sustainment. You will lead cross-functional root-cause investigations and mentor junior engineers, serving as the primary technical authority for process integration, equipment, test, quality and reliability.

This senior role offers significant autonomy, setting direction and acting as an escalation point.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering or Physics; Master's preferred.
• 5–10 years in Microsystems Engineering or related field.
• Experience leading yield improvement and DOE/RCAs in MEMS fabrication.

Responsibilities

• Establish and own the yield improvement roadmap for the MEMS microfab.
• Lead multi-disciplinary root-cause investigations across lithography, deposition, etch, and release.
• Develop and govern yield models; define SPC limits and escalation criteria.
• Drive end-to-end yield ramps; support FMEA and risk reduction activities.
• Present yield performance and plans to senior leadership and customers when applicable.
• Direct failure analysis strategy (SEM, FIB, TEM, profiling) and translate results into decisions.

Skills

Yield engineering

MEMS fabrication

Root cause analysis

Process control

Cross-functional leadership

Mentoring

Data analysis

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/ME/Physics

Master's preferred

Tools

SEM

FIB

TEM

Profilometry

Wafer metrology

Job description

Overview

Draper is an independent, nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge, MA. The 2,000+ employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering, lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper, visit www.draper.com.

Job Description Summary

The Yield Engineer will establish and execute a unified yield strategy across the MEMS microfabrication facility, from new product introduction to mature product sustainment. They will lead cross-functional root-cause investigations, set technical direction for yield improvement roadmaps and mentor junior engineers. They will serve as the primary technical authority connecting process integration, equipment, test, quality, and reliability functions.

What Sets This Role Apart

This is a senior individual-contributor or working-lead position with significant autonomy, you're expected to set direction, not just execute against one, and to be the escalation point when other engineers hit a wall.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and own the microfab's yield improvement roadmap, prioritizing projects by cost-of-yield impact and translating findings into capital, process, or control-plan changes
• Lead multi-disciplinary root cause investigations spanning lithography, deposition, etch, wafer bonding, and release/stiction failure modes
• Build and govern yield models, excursion detection and partner with process engineers to define statistical process control limits and escalation criteria for the fab
• Drive new product yield ramps end-to-end: support the development of failure mode and effect analysis and risk reduction, author control plans, establish manufacturing readiness level and transition-to-volume readiness reviews
• Present yield performance, risk and improvement plans to senior leadership and directly to customers, when applicable
• Direct failure analysis strategy (SEM, FIB, TEM, profilometry, hermeticity/leak test) and translation of results into engineering decisions with cost/schedule tradeoffs

Duties/Responsibilities

• Designs and develops Microelectromechanical devices/sensors, schematics and physical layouts of integrated MEMS components or packaged assemblies.
• Assess performance and process capabilities of potential MEMS device designs using modeling or simulation software.
• Tests and evaluates devices using a variety of tools, protocols, and software.
• Analyzes and addresses issues such as reliability, yield improvement, and/or failure.
• Develops production methods and fabrication processes for MEMS.
• Drafts documentation such as operating instructions, performance specifications, and manuals.
• Shares performance experience and operating characteristics with designers or other engineers for new product development purposes and/or training.
• Develop and maintain effective internal/external relationships.
• Drive solutions to complex problems with limited direction, contribute to requirements development, propose ways forward, and adapt appropriately to changes in requirements.
• Able to provide insight and suggest design or process modifications based on quantitative data or results.
• Identify program/system-level technical risks and develop and execute mitigation strategies for them.
• Actively mentor less experienced engineers and provide thoughtful, constructive feedback.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with the fabrication and metrology tools and instrumentation related to MEMS component fabrication.
• Proficient with software tools and systems used for device design, modelling, and performance testing.
• Proficient with software tools and systems used for statistical process control, and reliability and failure analysis, including yield improvement.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics required. Master's degree preferred

Experience

5-10 years of Microsystems Engineering or related experience.

Preferred Experience/Qualifications

• Own change control, corrective and preventative action processes for yield-impacting excursions; interface with quality on customer-facing yield commitments
• Partner with equipment and facilities on tool-matching, equipment qualification, and preventive maintenance strategies tied to yield loss
• Evaluate and lead adoption of new metrology, in-line monitoring, or data infrastructure (e.g., wafer-level data lakes, machine-learning based excursion detection)
• Knowledge and direct experience in applying MIL-STD-883 test methods to DoD programs.
• Experience with RF MEMS, inertial sensors, photonic integrated circuits or microfluidic device families
• Background implementing and supporting MEMS production line health monitoring for effective defect and process anomaly detection.
• Six Sigma Black Belt
• Prior people-management or dotted-line technical leadership experience

Applicants selected for this position will be required to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.

Job Location - City

Cambridge

Job Location - State

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code

02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $82,300.00 - $220,000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreement's approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us, but so is our life outside of work.

• workplace flexibility
• employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga
• health and finance workshops
• off site social events
• discounts to local museums and cultural activities

Draper is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, please contact [e-mail].