ATE Hardware Design - Principal Engineer

We are seeking a highly experienced and driven Principal Engineer to lead the end-to-end design, development, integration, and validation of advanced ATE test hardware. This senior technical role combines deep hands-on expertise with cross-functional influence to deliver robust, high-performance test solutions that enable successful new-product introduction and high-volume manufacturing.  

Key Responsibilities  

• Own the complete ATE test hardware development lifecycle, from requirements definition and architecture through design, verification, validation, release, and production support.  

• Design and review complex test hardware, including load boards, probe cards, sockets, and related interfaces for wafer sort and final test applications.  

• Lead schematic, stack-up, component-placement, routing, and design reviews, with particular focus on signal integrity, power integrity, manufacturability, reliability, and first-time-right execution.  

• Perform or guide SI/PI analysis, design simulation, hardware bring-up, debugging, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action implementation.  

• Partner closely with Business Line Test Engineering, Product Engineering, Operations, Quality, Procurement, and external manufacturing partners to ensure technical alignment, quality, cost, and schedule performance.  

• Define and improve test hardware design methodologies, guidelines, validation strategies, and reusable best practices across projects and sites.  

• Coordinate multiple hardware initiatives, manage technical risks and priorities, and support test hardware technology and supplier lifecycle planning.  

• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and design guidance to engineers, suppliers, and cross-functional project teams.  

• Develop and maintain strong technical partnerships with global test hardware suppliers; drive supplier capability, quality, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.  

Required Technical Expertise  

• Deep understanding of the full hardware development process: design, verification, validation, release, and production support.  

• Strong knowledge of semiconductor back-end assembly and test operations, including industrial and high-volume manufacturing environments.  

• Hands-on experience with major ATE platforms such as Advantest V93000 and EXA Scale, Teradyne J750, UltraFLEX , and UltraFLEXplus , or comparable systems.  

• Expertise in high-speed digital design and signal integrity, power delivery and power integrity, including PMIC applications, and complex multilayer PCB design.  

• Advanced knowledge of PCB layout practices, stack-up definition, SI/PI analysis, design-for-manufacturability, and hardware validation.  

• Strong understanding of semiconductor test flows, ATE architecture, wafer sort, final test, and the interaction between silicon, package, test hardware, and tester resources.  

• Proficiency with relevant electronic design and simulation tools such as Cadence Allegro, Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS, or equivalent tools.  

• Proven ability to troubleshoot complex electrical and hardware issues using structured problem-solving and data-driven analysis.  

Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering , Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline.  

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in ATE test hardware design and development within the semiconductor industry.  

• Proven track record of delivering complex test hardware solutions in a fast-paced new-product-development and manufacturing environment.  

• Experience coordinating cross-functional projects, managing external suppliers, and balancing technical performance, quality, cost, risk, and schedule.  

• Effective written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to collaborate and influence across global and multicultural teams.  

• Ability to operate independently, make sound technical decisions with incomplete information, and provide leadership as a recognized subject-matter expert.  

Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience across digital, mixed-signal, high-speed, RF, or power-management semiconductor products.  

• Experience developing technical roadmaps, design automation, reusable design checks, or standardized hardware development methodologies.  

• Established working relationships with global PCB, probe-card, socket, and test hardware suppliers.  

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