Principal Fab Test Engineer

Full-time - Senior

Fort Collins, CO

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

About the position

Wireless Semiconductor Division (WSD) Fab Test Engineering has an immediate opening for a Principal Test Engineer. In this specific position as a WSD Fab Test Unit Process Engineer (TUPE), you will have primary equipment ownership of one Analog DC test group and one to several other test tool groups with a multiplicity of individual tools per group. The tool groups consist of replicated, custom, semi-custom, or purchased wafer level probers and testers performing analog DC, Linear and Non-Linear RF parametric (sampled) and wafer sort (100%) measurements. These tools are used to characterize and measure advanced silicon based MEMs wafers for development and production. The TUPE is responsible for the hardware system design and/or specification of the tool. Each tool can be a turnkey system purchased externally, or built as a custom/semi-custom system from purchased or custom designed components and instruments. The TUPE is responsible for specifying and verifying the measurement capability of each element. The TUPE also writes the software needed to setup, interface, configure and run the testers as well as interface with the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) data systems. One of the most important items in the scope and role of the Test Unit Process Engineer (TUPE) is to fully understand the technical details of the test that is being performed and the technical details of the test equipment with which the measurement is being made. An additional critical criteria for the TUPE is to understand the accuracy and the repeatability or variance of the test being performed. Both of these critical fundamentals allow the test engineer to distinguish between the measurement system and the product being measured as a gauge of test quality. As a WSD Fab Test Unit Process Engineer (TUPE), you will have a mix of both tactical and strategic responsibilities. The tactical responsibilities of the TUPE are to keep the owned test tool sets functioning as expected ensuring the continuous flow of lots and wafers through the various test operations. This generally consists of review and resolution of the control charts, calibration coefficients, and reference wafer results of the test systems, as well as reviewing and resolving lot/wafer holds and dispositions that are tester related. The strategic responsibilities of the TUPE can be continuous improvement projects, enhanced capability or migration, or completely new measurement requirements driven by new technology required for R&D or NPI and intended for the owned test system tool sets. Assignments can be complex and variable in nature and require judgment, initiative, and technical/specialized knowledge. As a WSD Fab Test Unit Process Engineer (TUPE), you will collaborate within the Fort Collins Fab test functional area interfacing with test, yield, integration, data tools, research and development, new product introduction, and industrial engineering teams, test maintenance technicians, test and operations process technicians, operations management, line technicians and operators, Environmental Health and Safety teams, fab facilitation teams, technical writers, change management specialists and technical trainers. The ideal candidate shall have demonstrated most traits of perseverance, diligence, attention to detail, continuous improvement focus, high work product quality, conscientiousness, and thoroughness.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to identify, evaluate, improve and maintain owned tool sets
• Lead improvement projects to support metrics of availability, uptime, capacity, maintenance cost, yield, quality and productivity goals
• Lead improvement projects for measurement quality and enhanced capability
• Establish improvement project objectives, schedules and resource profiles for projects
• Identify, select, purchase, install, qualify and release new tool components and instruments
• Work with tool component and instrument suppliers/vendors to debug tool performance
• Investigate Lot Incident Report (LIR)s, Scrap events, Potentially Non-Conforming Material (PNM) events, and tool interrupt events to identify root cause or contributing factors and implement permanent corrective actions
• Create and update Tool Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (tool FMEAs)
• Investigate and implement robust monitoring methodologies enabling early detection of excursions in custom equipment performance before product is impacted (e.g. FDC - SECS/GEMS)
• Develop and implement operating and maintenance procedures that are accurate and precise using documentation, training and certification of team members

Requirements

• Demonstrated proficiency in identifying, selecting, purchasing, installing, qualifying and releasing new tool components and instruments
• Working with tool component and instrument suppliers/vendors to debug tool performance
• Configuration, setup, programming and use of EG4090 and TEL probers
• Wafer level Analog DC, Linear RF, Non-Linear RF instruments and measurements DC-20+ GHz
• Probe card technologies and maintenance (Cantilever, Vertical, GSG, Pyramid, etc)
• Software programming using Linux and Windows (XP, 07, 10) operating systems
• Software programming using Python and Git Lab version control, workflow, issue tracking and package deployment
• Creation and ownership of PDCAs, E-TCOs, D-TCOs
• Component level electrical and circuit knowledge
• Instrument measurement capability, accuracy, precision and repeatability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent diagnostic and troubleshooting skills for process/equipment/measurement interactions
• Applying structured problem solving methodology
• Using Statistical Process Control (SPC), DOE and statistical hypothesis testing
• Education: Bachelors in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or similar equivalent field and a minimum 12+ years of experience in a similar or related role

Nice-to-haves

• Test executive specification, evaluation, down selection, purchasing and implementation
• Artwork review with Cadence
• Software programming familiarity with VEE, JAVA, JSCRIPT, JSON, JMP
• Cross platform software GUI development for Linux and Windows
• Practical experience in Fault Detection & Classification (FDC) systems, Copy Exactly (CE!) methodology, High Precision Maintenance (HPM), and Lean Manufacturing
• Basic understanding of MEMS and active device micro-fabrication techniques

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision plans
• 401(K) participation including company matching
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company paid holidays
• Paid sick leave and vacation time
• Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence