DFT (Design for Test) Engineer

About Etched

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Design For Testability (DFT) Engineer to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring the robust testability of integrated circuits (ICs) from the design phase through to production. This role is crucial in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of our testing processes, thereby enhancing overall product quality.

Key responsibilities

Design and Implementation

• Develop and implement robust Design for Test (DFT) architectures for ASIC and SoC designs to enhance test coverage, debug capability, and fault isolation.

• Integrate industry-standard DFT methodologies such as scan insertion, boundary scan, Built-In Self-Test (BIST), and Memory BIST (MBIST).

• Collaborate cross-functionally with design and verification teams to ensure DFT requirements are addressed early and consistently throughout the design cycle.
  Analyze test results and silicon debug data to provide design feedback and drive improvements in coverage, yield, and reliability.

Verification and Validation

• Create and execute comprehensive DFT verification plans to validate the correct implementation and functionality of all DFT features.

• Apply simulation-based and formal verification techniques to ensure high confidence in DFT logic correctness.

• Conduct internal DFT audits and design reviews to proactively identify and resolve gaps in testability or coverage.

• Support silicon bring-up, debug, and failure analysis during post-silicon validation to ensure successful product launch.
  

Production Support

• Partner with test engineering teams to develop and optimize Automated Test Equipment (ATE) programs for volume production.

• Generate production-quality test patterns and ensure robust failure analysis capability in high-volume environments.

• Collaborate with manufacturing and quality teams to implement data-driven test process improvements and monitor long-term product health.

• Ensure test strategies are aligned with product milestones, manufacturing timelines, and quality/reliability targets.
  

Documentation and Training

• Author and maintain detailed documentation for DFT architecture, test plans, procedures, and debug guides.

• Share best practices through training sessions, onboarding, and mentorship to enhance DFT awareness across design and test teams.

• Stay current with emerging DFT technologies, industry trends, and evolving standards to continually improve internal methodologies.

You may be a good fit if you have

• 10+ years of experience in DFT engineering with a track record of successful test implementations for ASIC or SoC products.

• A deep understanding of digital design, verification methodologies, and DFT implementation practices.

• Proficiency in SystemVerilog and fluency with industry-standard EDA tools (e.g., Synopsys DFT Compiler, Cadence Encounter Test, Mentor Tessent).

• Scripting and automation experience using Python, Perl, or TCL to streamline DFT implementation and test processes.

• Track record of leading DFT initiatives across multiple product generations in high-performance or high-volume silicon environments.

• Strong analytical and debugging skills, with the ability to work across teams to resolve complex testability issues.

• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities, with a focus on clarity and cross-functional alignment.

• A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

Strong candidates may also have experience with

• Mixed-signal DFT methodologies and integration of analog testability into SoC workflows.

• Industry standards such as IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG), IEEE 1500, and experience applying them in complex designs.

• Yield analysis, product engineering, and contributions to test cost reduction and quality improvement programs.

Benefits

• Full medical, dental, and vision packages, with 100% of premium covered

• Housing subsidy of $2,000/month for those living within walking distance of the office

• Daily lunch and dinner in our office

• Relocation support for those moving to West San Jose

How we’re different

Etched believes in the Bitter Lesson. We think most of the progress in the AI field has come from using more FLOPs to train and run models, and the best way to get more FLOPs is to build model-specific hardware. Larger and larger training runs encourage companies to consolidate around fewer model architectures, which creates a market for single-model ASICs.

We are a fully in-person team in West San Jose, and greatly value engineering skills. We do not have boundaries between engineering and research, and we expect all of our technical staff to contribute to both as needed.