ATE Hardware & Thermal Support Technician

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Position: ATE Hardware & Thermal Support Technician

Location: Santa Clara, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Role Objective:

The ATE Hardware & Thermal Support Technician will be responsible for hands-on setup, maintenance, calibration, and technical troubleshooting for ATE test floor hardware. The role focuses on maintaining the physical integrity of thermal systems, load boards, and sockets to ensure stable test conditions and prevent hardware failures or damage.

Core Responsibilities:

System Setup & Thermal Integration:

• Perform physical setup and configuration of thermal systems including TCORE, SeaCobra, Eflux, Winway, and Chroma units.
• Route and connect water/air lines and perform GUI configuration for thermal systems.
• Prepare thermal interfaces by precision cutting and installing Indium sheets and applying thermal grease to pedestals for optimal heat transfer.
• Set up dry boxes and purge air systems for cold-temperature testing environments ranging from -40°C to 5°C to prevent condensation and ice buildup.
• Support ATE Engineers with Load Board (LB) changes, ULFF setups, and device swaps.
  
  

Hardware Debugging & Failure Repair:

• Troubleshoot thermal system alarms and hardware failures including pump issues, sensor failures, and cooling leaks.
• Inspect sockets under microscopes using ball maps and perform pin replacements and specialized cleaning to resolve continuity failures.
• Conduct Load Board verification and repair activities including:
  
  

Short testing

Open testing

Continuity testing

TDR testing

• Perform PAD cleaning and Kapton taping as required.
• Calibrate plunger force and adjust air pressure (PSI) settings based on approved calibration charts to ensure uniform hardware contact.
  
  

Documentation & Reporting:

• Perform daily walkthroughs of all test stations to verify proper thermal system operation.
• Update daily walkthrough Excel reports and maintenance logs.
• Verify water sensors and ionizer fans are functioning correctly and properly positioned.
• Document hardware-related incidents such as burnt sockets, thermal runaway events, and hardware failures for root cause analysis and shift reporting.
  
  

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with ATE hardware setup and thermal systems.
• Experience working with load boards, sockets, and thermal interface materials.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for thermal and hardware failures.
• Familiarity with diagnostic and calibration procedures for ATE environments.
• Ability to work with microscopes, continuity testing tools, and TDR equipment.
• Strong understanding of cold-temperature test environments and condensation prevention techniques.
• Experience maintaining and troubleshooting mechanical and thermal systems.
• Good documentation and reporting skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced lab environment during night shifts.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience supporting semiconductor or hardware validation labs.
• Experience working performance compute testing environments is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to hardware safety procedures.