Silicon Design-for-Test (DFT) Engineer

MatX Inc.; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off: 4 weeks PTO+ holidays

Health insurance

Remote work up to 3 weeks

401K

Parental leave

Mental health support

Job summary

MatX Inc. is building a cutting-edge silicon design-for-test (DFT) engineering team in Mountain View to enable high-performance GenAI silicon.

You will implement DFT functions for SERDES PHY, integrate DFT patterns, and develop firmware loading flows for PHY bring-up, collaborating across verification, firmware, and test teams to ensure robust silicon test programs from simulation to ATE. Ideal candidates have hands-on DFT experience (MBIST, at-speed test), knowledge of JTAG/IJTAG, and

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience implementing DFT functions for silicon, including MBIST, at-speed scan, and scan compression.
• Experience integrating PHY DFT interfaces (SERDES test modes, analog test buses) into SoC DFT architecture.
• Familiarity with bootloader sequences and register map initialization for PHY firmware loading.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement functional test solutions for SERDES PHY, including loopback and eye diagram characterization.
• Perform DFT integration of PHY IP blocks and develop robust test pattern porting from IP to SoC.
• Develop firmware loading flows for PHY bring-up via SPI/JTAG and support test program debug.

Skills

DFT implementation

JTAG (IEEE 1149.1)

IJTAG (IEEE 1687)

Streaming Scan Networks

SERDES PHY test

Tools

Synopsys DFT Compiler

Mentor Tessent

Job description

What MatX Is Building

MatX is on a mission to be the compute platform for AGI. We are developing vertically integrated full-stack solutions from silicon to systems including hardware and software to train and run the largest ML workloads for AGI. MatX is seeking a Silicon Design-For-Test (DFT) engineer to join our team as we create best-in-class silicon for high-performance and sustainable GenAI. The successful candidate for this role will be responsible for implementation of DFT functions for performant and functionally accurate silicon for MatX products across compute, memory management, high-speed connectivity and other key technologies in leading-edge process nodes.

What You'll Do Here

• Design and develop functional test solutions for SERDES PHY, covering loopback, eye diagram characterization, and margin testing.
• Perform DFT integration of PHY IP blocks, including boundary scan, BIST interfaces, and test mode control signals, and develop robust pattern porting flows from IP-level to SoC-level.
• Develop and maintain firmware loading flows for PHY bring-up and test — including SPI/JTAG-based firmware download, register initialization sequences, and debug support during test program development.
• Collaborate closely with verification, firmware, and test engineering teams to develop and bring up silicon test programs from simulation to ATE.
• Execute DFT implementation and verification flows for block-level DFT insertion, including scan chain closure, ATPG pattern generation, and sign-off.
• Support test escapes root cause analysis and drive continuous improvement of DFT coverage and test quality.

Who You Are

• Hands-on experience with DFT implementation — MBIST, at-speed scan and scan compression.
• Strong knowledge of modern DFT standards and protocols: JTAG (IEEE 1149.1), IJTAG (IEEE 1687), and Streaming Scan Networks (SSN).
• Experience or Working Knowledge of loading and validating PHY firmware via serial interfaces (SPI, I2C, or JTAG), including understanding of bootloader sequences and register map initialization.
• Solid experience integrating PHY DFT interfaces (e.g., SERDES PHY test modes, analog test buses into the SoC DFT architecture.
• Experience with system-level DFT access — hierarchical test access, test data compression, and multi-die/chiplet DFT — is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with EDA tools such as Synopsys DFT Compiler, Mentor Tessent, or equivalent.

Compensation

The US base salary for this full-time position is determined based on a variety of factors including role, experience, location, job-related skills, and relevant education and training. Career length is only a guideline for compensation.

• Early Career - $160,000 - $275,000 + equity
• Mid Career - $175,000 - $400,000 + equity
• Senior Career - $250,000 - $600,000 + equity

What We Offer

• Time off: 4 weeks PTO (accrued) + 12 company Holidays + up to 3 weeks remote work
• Health: Company-subsidized Medical (Kaiser or Anthem) for employees & dependents, Guardian Dental and Vision insurances for employee & dependents, and life insurance (employee only), plus HSA and FSA offerings via Lively. See attached benefits 1-pager and full benefits guide for more info on benefits.
• Financial Wellbeing: Choose from Roth IRA/ 401K (or both) retirement plans with up to 5% company contribution to 401K (even if you don't contribute). Also, 100% company-paid life insurance (up to $300K) and long-term disability insurances.
• Professional Development: $1500 Professional Development Budget (per year)
• Team Meals: MatX provides onsite team lunch & dinner Monday - Friday, with your choice of ordering via WeBox, Specialty’s or via our reimbursement system
• Commute on Us: Commute on our company Uber account, or reimburse your train rides. Either way, we pay 100% for your daily commute.
• MatX E[x]tras: $50/mo to use on the perk you value most
• Cell & Internet Reimbursement: $35/mo for cellular and $40/mo for wifi
• Mental Wellbeing: 100% paid mental health benefit via SpringHealth and Guardian EAP.
• Support to Parents: Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave regardless of path to parenthood, 10 weeks pregnancy disability leave, flexible return-to-work hours, and Benepass reproductive health & parental benefit.
• AI Resources: Up to $20K/month plus a dedicated internal AI Tooling Team to support your productivity

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our team and our focus on creating an inviting and inclusive work experience, MatX is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and work from our offices in Mountain View Tuesdays-Thursdays.

This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicants capacity to perform job functions in compliance with U.S. export control laws without obtaining a license from U.S. export control authorities.