Senior DFT Engineer

Company

QFocus Technologies

Location

Sunnyvale, CA

Domain

Embedded AI

Job Overview

As a Senior DFT Engineer at QFocus Technologies, you will be responsible for defining, architecting, and executing robust Design-for-Test strategies for high-performance SoCs and ASICs. You will work closely with front-end design, physical design, verification, and product engineering teams to ensure high test coverage, optimal silicon quality, and streamlined post-silicon manufacturing test enablement.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Silicon Execution

• Define and implement comprehensive DFT architectures including Scan, ATPG, MBIST, and JTAG (IEEE standards 1149.1, 1500, 1687 IJTAG).
• Perform Scan Chain Insertion, stitching, and optimization to ensure timing closure and power grid compatibility.
• Integrate Memory BIST (MBIST) controllers, repair mechanisms, and custom memory test routines.
• Generate high-coverage Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG) patterns, including Stuck-at, At-Speed (Transition, Path Delay), and Cell-Aware testing.
• Execute Verilog, SystemVerilog simulations for gate-level DFT validation, ensuring timing and vector cleanliness (SDF simulation).
• Run DFT linting and rule checking using industry-standard tools (e.g., SpyGlass DFT, Tessent, Modus, or TetraMAX).

Post-Silicon Production & Bring-Up

• Translate pre-silicon ATPG and MBIST patterns into tester formats (e.g., WGL, STIL) for ATE (Automatic Test Equipment) deployment.
• Support post-silicon bring-up in the lab, debugging first-silicon DFT features, pattern conversion, and silicon failures.
• Collaborate with Product and Test Engineering (PTE) teams to optimize test time, diagnose failure modes, and boost manufacturing yield.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 3+ years of hands‑on DFT experience in advanced SoC/ASIC development nodes.
• Verilog & SystemVerilog: Strong proficiency in Hardware Description Languages for DFT integration, wrapper creation, and simulation debugging.
• Scan Insertion: Hands‑on experience with scan synthesis, compressed scan architectures (EDT, SmartTest), and boundary scan integration.
• ATPG: Deep experience generating, debugging, and fault‑grading Stuck-at, At-speed, and fault-model test patterns.
• MBIST: Proven experience with memory BIST insertion, MBIST architecture, and memory repair schemes.
• JTAG: Solid understanding of IEEE 1149.1 standards, TAP controllers, and board/chip‑level test logic integration.
• Post‑Silicon Support: Direct experience bringing up patterns on target silicon and supporting production yield ramp.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with scripting languages (Tcl, Python, or Perl) for automation of DFT flows.
• Knowledge of advanced DFT concepts like High-Speed IO testing, SerDes loopback, or Analog DFT.
• Understanding of synthesis tools (Synopsys Design Compiler, Cadence Genus) and static timing analysis (STA) constraint creation for DFT modes.

QFocus Technologies LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.