What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior NPI Test Engineer position at Semtech?
Location: San Diego, CA (Hybrid MON-THU in office, Friday remote)
Our Team
Semtech's Global Test Engineering team is a world-class organization of innovative engineers who enable the success of our entire semiconductor portfolio through cutting-edge test solutions and methodologies. We are the technical backbone that ensures every Semtech product meets the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance. Our team spans multiple sites globally and serves as the center of excellence for test innovation, working closely with all business units to deliver breakthrough test capabilities. We specialize in mixed-signal, high-speed digital, and RF test development, with particular expertise in advanced SiGe BiCMOS technologies. Our engineers drive competitive advantage through innovative test architectures, methodologies, and continuous improvement initiatives that directly impact Semtech's bottom line.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Senior NPI Test Engineer to serve as a key technical contributor for new product introduction test development in our mixed-signal product portfolio. This role requires a skilled and experienced engineer who can develop and implement comprehensive test solutions spanning from early silicon validation through high-volume production. The ideal candidate will apply testability best practices across assigned programs, lead technical workstreams within multi-disciplinary projects, and deliver robust test methodologies that enable next-generation high-speed communication products operating at 200Gbps and beyond. This role will also support our sensing products for wearables, cell phones, as well as industrial and automotive.
Primary Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Architecture
Education & Experience:
All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.
A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $116.5K- $166.5K. There are several factors taken into consideration in determining base salary, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, skills, education and experience, as well as job location and the value of other elements of an employee’s total compensation package
Our Team
Semtech's Global Test Engineering team is a world-class organization of innovative engineers who enable the success of our entire semiconductor portfolio through cutting-edge test solutions and methodologies. We are the technical backbone that ensures every Semtech product meets the highest standards of quality, reliability, and performance. Our team spans multiple sites globally and serves as the center of excellence for test innovation, working closely with all business units to deliver breakthrough test capabilities. We specialize in mixed-signal, high-speed digital, and RF test development, with particular expertise in advanced SiGe BiCMOS technologies. Our engineers drive competitive advantage through innovative test architectures, methodologies, and continuous improvement initiatives that directly impact Semtech's bottom line.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Senior NPI Test Engineer to serve as a key technical contributor for new product introduction test development in our mixed-signal product portfolio. This role requires a skilled and experienced engineer who can develop and implement comprehensive test solutions spanning from early silicon validation through high-volume production. The ideal candidate will apply testability best practices across assigned programs, lead technical workstreams within multi-disciplinary projects, and deliver robust test methodologies that enable next-generation high-speed communication products operating at 200Gbps and beyond. This role will also support our sensing products for wearables, cell phones, as well as industrial and automotive.
Primary Responsibilities
Technical Leadership & Architecture
- Develop and implement test strategies for complex mixed-signal SiGe products from concept through production maturity
- Lead development of innovative test methodologies for both high-speed SerDes, CDRs, as well as the sensing product line
- Contribute to DFT/testability requirements in IC architecture, applying established standards and best practices
- Develop and implement advanced test techniques for products operating at >200Gbps data rates
- Create reusable test IP, libraries, and frameworks that accelerate NPI cycles across product families
- Perform technical risk assessment and mitigation strategies for test coverage and quality
- Represent test engineering in product architecture reviews and gate meetings
- Partner with IC design teams from concept phase to ensure optimal test coverage and manufacturability
- Lead test readiness reviews with stakeholders, providing strategic recommendations
- Collaborate with Product Engineering to define characterization strategies and correlation methodologies
- Interface with customer quality teams on test specifications and coverage requirements
- Architect and launch test solutions that achieve test time targets for complex mixed-signal devices
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that reduce NPI cycle time by 10-20%
- Research and implement next-generation ATE capabilities and measurement techniques
- Develop proprietary test methods that provide competitive advantage in cost and quality
- Lead evaluation and adoption of new test platforms, instrumentation, and methodologies
- Evaluate and implement AI/ML techniques for yield enhancement and test optimization
- Contribute to Semtech’s leadership in mixed-signal test innovation
- Ensure seamless transfer of test solutions to high-volume OSATs with >99% first-pass success
- Drive test cost reduction initiatives delivering year-over-year improvements
- Establish and monitor KPIs for test effectiveness, efficiency, and quality
- Mentor junior engineers, developing next generation of test leaders
- Create and maintain comprehensive test methodology documentation and training materials
- Build strategic relationships with test partners to influence platform development
- Foster culture of innovation and continuous learning within test organization
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 8 years of progressive experience in semiconductor test engineering
- 5 years specifically in mixed-signal/RF test development
- Proven track record leading NPI programs for high-speed communication ICs
- Expert-level proficiency with Advantest V93000 platform (SmarTest 7/8)
- Teradyne uFLex experience also a plus.
- Advanced programming skills in C/C , Python, and TCL
- Deep understanding of high-speed signal integrity, jitter analysis, and BER testing
- Expertise in analog/mixed-signal DFT techniques (BIST, scan, boundary scan)
- Proficiency in RF/microwave test techniques beyond 40GHz
- Strong foundation in statistical process control and quality methodologies
- Experience with PCB design tools (Cadence, Altium) and signal integrity simulation
- Ability to collaborate effectively and influence across cross-functional teams
- Track record of delivering complex projects on aggressive schedules
- Strong presentation skills to executive leadership and customers
- Proven ability to build and maintain strategic vendor relationships
- Master's degree or PhD in relevant engineering discipline
- 10 years in semiconductor test with focus on SerDes/high-speed I/O
- Experience with SiGe BiCMOS process technology and its test challenges
- Experience with Sensing products, particularly capacitive sensing
- Experience with force/haptics and magnetic sensing also a plus
- Knowledge of automotive quality standards (AEC-Q100) and qualification flows
- Familiarity with 93000 PS1600/PS3600 digital channels and Wave Scale RF
- Familiarity with Teradyne uFlex HSD200 and DC30
- Experience with wafer-level testing and probe card design
- Experience with test data analytics and machine learning applications
- Serves as a go-to technical resource for mixed-signal test development within the team
- Builds test capabilities that enable entry into new markets and applications
- Strengthens Semtech’s test capabilities in high-speed communications through consistent technical excellence
- Agile and able to support multiple product lines
All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace.
A reasonable estimate of the pay range for this position is $116.5K- $166.5K. There are several factors taken into consideration in determining base salary, including but not limited to: job-related qualifications, skills, education and experience, as well as job location and the value of other elements of an employee’s total compensation package
Salary : $116,500 - $166,500