Sr. Test and Validation Engineer

Natcast; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Natcast as a Sr. Test and Validation Engineer and lead innovative validation and testing initiatives for advanced semiconductor products. In this critical role, you'll manage complex test strategies and collaborate across teams, ensuring the successful transition from development to market readiness. Your technical expertise will directly contribute to strengthening U.S. semiconductor capabilities and achieving excellence in chip validation methodologies.

Qualifications

• 8-12+ years experience in post-silicon validation or ATE test development.
• Strong expertise in silicon/system-level debug.
• Deep understanding of DFT methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead post-silicon validation planning and execution for complex semiconductor devices.
• Develop comprehensive ATE test programs for high-volume manufacturing.
• Create automated test frameworks and infrastructure.

Skills

Programming

Automation

Validation

Debugging

Collaboration

Education

B.S./M.S. in Electrical, Computer, or Electronics Engineering

Tools

Teradyne UltraFlex

Advantest V93000

Python

C++

Perl

TCL

Job description

Natcast (short for The National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology) is a new, purpose-built, non-profit entity created to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) consortium, established by the CHIPS Act of the U.S. government.

Working at Natcast represents an opportunity to help extend America’s leadership in semiconductor technology, significantly reduce the time and cost of moving from idea to commercialization, and build and sustain a semiconductor workforce development ecosystem.

These efforts to advance semiconductor technology and seed new industries built on the capabilities of a wide range of advanced chips hold the potential to benefit the country and the world for generations to come.

Sr. Test and Validation Engineer

In this role you will lead comprehensive validation and test strategies for cutting-edge semiconductor products, bridging the gap between early development and production readiness while enabling Natcast members to bring innovative silicon solutions to market.

Every day you will orchestrate complex validation activities, develop sophisticated test methodologies, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the quality and reliability of advanced semiconductor devices.

To thrive in this role you must combine deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, demonstrating excellence in both hands-on validation and test program development while driving innovation in semiconductor testing.

Natcast stands at the forefront of semiconductor research and engineering, serving as a crucial hub for innovation in the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem. Through the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), Natcast drives technological advancement through collaborative partnerships, cutting-edge facilities, and a commitment to maintaining U.S. leadership in semiconductor technology.

This position plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of member semiconductor innovations. The role spans pre-silicon validation through production readiness, requiring sophisticated technical expertise to validate advanced silicon products including CPUs, GPUs, SoCs, AI accelerators, and chiplets.

Responsibilities:

• Lead post-silicon validation planning and execution for complex semiconductor devices

• Develop comprehensive ATE test programs for high-volume manufacturing

• Execute silicon bring-up, debug, and characterization activities

• Create automated test frameworks and infrastructure

• Drive cross-functional collaboration across design and manufacturing teams

• Analyze test data and optimize yield improvement strategies

• Validate high-speed interfaces and complex subsystems

• Manage lab and ATE test development workflows

Required Skills and Experience:

• B.S./M.S. in Electrical, Computer, or Electronics Engineering

• 8-12+ years experience in post-silicon validation or ATE test development

• Strong expertise with ATE platforms (Teradyne, Advantest)

• Excellence in silicon/system-level debug

• Deep understanding of DFT methodologies

• Strong programming and automation capabilities

• Experience with high-speed I/O validation

• Proven cross-functional collaboration abilities

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Experience with AI/ML chips and advanced architectures

• Background in yield enhancement and optimization

• Knowledge of reliability testing protocols

• Experience working with OSATs

• Expertise with advanced data analytics

• HVM test development background

Technical Proficiencies:

• ATE Platforms: Teradyne UltraFlex, Advantest V93000

• Lab Equipment: Advanced scopes, analyzers, thermal chambers

• Programming: Python, C++, Perl, TCL

• Analysis Tools: JMP, Spotfire, SQL

Ready to advance semiconductor innovation through validation excellence? Join our team and help ensure the quality of technologies that will strengthen domestic semiconductor capabilities for generations to come. Apply now to contribute to this critical mission!

Natcast is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any protected attribute. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission. If you require accommodation at any stage of the application process due to a disability, please let us know.

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