Senior Software & Systems Engineer - Semiconductor Failure Analysis Tools

Overview

Join a specialized engineering team at Checkpoint Technologies, LLC in San Jose, California! We develop cutting-edge, multi-million-dollar diagnostic tools used by top semiconductor manufacturers. Our instruments integrate advanced laser scanning microscopy, photon emission analysis, and CAD navigation to identify defects at the transistor level—accelerating silicon debug and improving yield.

As a Senior Software & Systems Engineer, you’ll go far beyond traditional software development. You’ll design complex control software that synchronizes lasers, motion stages, and high-bandwidth electronics, while visualizing signals and images for expert fault analysis.

This role requires deep knowledge of semiconductor device physics, precision instrumentation, and software-hardware integration.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain software that controls high-precision optical and electronic instrumentation for semiconductor failure analysis.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers and Failure Analysis experts to translate complex physical diagnostics into user-friendly software tools.
• Design responsive control systems that interface with CAD databases (e.g., Synopsys Avalon) for real-time navigation and transistor-level targeting.
• Build high-performance GUIs (C#/WPF) to visualize diagnostic data such as photon emission, waveforms, and device maps.
• Lead integration efforts across motion control, laser timing, optical subsystems, and signal acquisition tools (e.g., oscilloscopes, source meters).
• Troubleshoot complex system-level interactions and drive performance optimization.
• Document architecture, workflows, and test plans to ensure reliability and maintainability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or Semiconductor Device Engineering.
• 5 years of experience developing control software for scientific or diagnostic instruments in the semiconductor space.
• Strong programming skills in C , C# and WPF on Windows platforms.
• Solid understanding of semiconductor device physics and failure mechanisms.
• Experience working with CAD navigation tools like Synopsys Avalon.

Preferred Experience

• Hands-on experience with techniques such as TIVA, LIVA, LADA, OBIRCH, or photon emission.
• Experience with laser microscopy or optics-based instrumentation.
• Familiarity with hardware interfaces (USB, PCIe, FPGA, RS-232/485).
• Previous roles at companies like ThermoFisher, Hamamatsu, or others in the semiconductor equipment space.
• Real-time data processing and high-performance visualization for complex datasets.

What Sets This Role Apart

• Unique Domain: Work on systems that combine optics, electronics, CAD data, and real-time software in one integrated tool.
• Critical Impact: Your software will help validate designs and locate defects that affect billions of devices.
• Challenging Tech Stack: Blend real-time hardware control, high-resolution visualization, and precision diagnostics in a single system.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with experts in optics, electronics, and semiconductor failure analysis.

Salary Range: $130k - $175k

About Us

Checkpoint Technologies, LLC is a leader in advanced semiconductor diagnostic equipment. Our systems enable the world’s top semiconductor companies to detect and resolve chip failures early—speeding development, reducing costs, and improving product reliability. If you’re a systems thinker with a passion for software, precision hardware, and solving deep technical problems, we would love to hear from you. Please send your resume to: hr@checkpointtechnologies.com