Senior Analog Electrical Systems Engineer

Overview

PDF Solutions (NASDAQ: PDFS) is seeking a Senior Analog Electrical Systems Engineer to join the R&D team focusing on developing a cutting-edge electron beam inspection tool (eProbe). These tools are basically high-speed scanning electron microscopes (SEM) used at 300mm semiconductor wafer fabs to implement PDF's Design-for-Inspection (DFI) methodology used in yield ramp and manufacturing control.

As an analog circuit systems engineer at PCB assembly (PCBA) level, the candidate will work closely with the PDF internal engineering team and with our customers on a wide range of technical challenges to improve system accuracy and throughput of our inspection tools. He or she must be agile, organized, highly motivated, a team player, with strong initiative, good communication skills, and can work in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary, intensive, and highly productive small team environment. Our R&D team has an outstanding mix of diverse talents with various backgrounds and excellent mentorship opportunities. The focus of this role can be adjusted based on the candidate's strengths and interest as well as experience level.

Responsibilities

• Perform systematic precision measurements to characterize ebeam electron optics control electronics and signal detection electronics on the bench and on the tool as well. Develop metrics and statistical model to quantify system performance such as temporal stability of individual tools and repeatability across different tools. Analyze data with basic scripting languages (such as Python), generate test result documents, and communicate the results effectively across engineering team.

• Work with electron optics scientists and hardware, firmware, and software engineers to improve methods and algorithms to characterize tool stability and repeatability. Strive to augment data analysis methodology for profound understanding of the tool. Clearly and methodically specify the statement of the problem and pinpoint the root cause to facilitate potential improvements at the sub-system level, which includes, but not limited to, high-speed ebeam deflection electronics, high accuracy Pico ammeter to measure beam current, ultra-sensitive video chain electronics, etc.

• Work with a highly skilled analog electronics team to improve robustness and performance (stability and repeatability in particular) of analog/mixed signal circuits such as large bandwidth/low noise/high linearity amplifier and pulse generator, high speed/low noise transimpedance amplifier, high accuracy current sensing circuit, and any related electronic sub-systems.

• Work under general direction to independently determine and develop viable approaches to solutions. Support a wide range of electrical subsystems and their integration and troubleshooting to achieve individual tool performance consistency over time (stability and reliability) and multiple tools performance matching (repeatability and reproducibility).

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or an equivalent engineering field

• Master with +8 years of hands-on experience or Ph. D. with 3+ years' experience

• The successful candidate should be a self-motivated team player with initiative, dedication, and strong communication skills.

• The successful candidate should have in-depth knowledge of statistics, excellent data analytical skills and problem-solving skills.

• Fluent with scripting languages (such as Python, Matlab, and etc.)

• Knowledge of high speed, low noise, and robust circuit design and applications for operational amplifier, transimpedance amplifier, pulse generator, data converters (ADC/DAC), and etc. PCBA level hands-on experience with these circuits is a must.

• Familiar with simulation tooling, such as LTSpice, TI-TINA, Matlab Simulink, etc. for circuit performance modeling.

• Knowledge and experience of high precision metrology and measurement automation.

• Familiar with equipment such as digital multimeter (DMM), source meter unit (SMU), time domain reflectometer (TDR), signal/function generator, oscilloscope, signal/spectral analyzer, network analyzer, etc.

• Knowledge and experience of capital equipment tools such as ebeam inspection, SEM, TEM, ebeam lithography is highly desired.

• Knowledge and experience of electron optics is desired.

• Knowledge and experience of digital signal processing and FPGA is a plus.

• Knowledge and experience of board level and sub-system level EMI (shielding and grounding), signal integrity, and power integrity is a plus.

• Knowledge and experience of PCB/PCBA design tooling (Altium (preferred), OrCAD/Allegro, etc.) is a plus.

Pay Range

USD $140,000.00 - USD $185,000.00 /Yr.