PDF Solutions, Inc.

Semiconductor R&D Engineer

PDF Solutions, Inc.$120K — $180K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or related field (strong research Master’s considered)
  • Proven ability to design original experiments and analyze data
  • Strong intuition for measurement systems including noise, dynamics, and stability
  • Hands-on lab experience with precision instrumentation (oscilloscopes, cables, power)
  • Proficiency in Python for scientific computing and data analysis
  • Skilled in converting experimental data into models or algorithms
  • Strong oral and written communication skills

Responsibilities

  • Design and execute experiments to enhance semiconductor inspection tool performance
  • Investigate complex measurement-system behaviors using a first-principles approach
  • Develop and prototype algorithms in Python from experimental data
  • Analyze large datasets to assess system behavior and identify improvement opportunities
  • Translate R&D findings into actionable recommendations for product and process changes
  • Document experimental methods and results for knowledge sharing
  • Present findings to cross-functional teams and support technical discussions with customers

Benefits

  • Hands-on research and development experience with cutting-edge tools
  • Collaborative environment with cross-disciplinary teams
  • Opportunities to contribute to significant product improvements
  • Access to a state-of-the-art laboratory and advanced instrumentation
  • Potential for professional growth in semiconductor technology
Full Job Description
Overview

We are seeking an R&D engineer with a strong experimental-science background to advance eProbe semiconductor inspection tools through hands-on characterization, data analysis, and algorithm development. This is not an IT, infrastructure, or enterprise systems role. Work is hands-on in the lab and analytical at the desk: scopes and tool logs one day, coding and algorithm design the next. You will collaborate with hardware, FPGA/firmware, software, and applications engineers, and present clear recommendations grounded in data and physical reasoning.

The ideal candidate has a Ph.D. (or equivalent research depth) in Physics, Applied Physics, or Materials Science, enjoys ambiguous R&D problems, designs clean experiments, and can drive an investigation from hypothesis through measured result to an implementable algorithm or process change.

Responsibilities
  • Design and execute experiments to characterize and improve semiconductor inspection tool performance
  • Investigate complex measurement-system behavior using a first-principles / physical-reasoning approach
  • Develop and prototype algorithms in Python based on experimental data and engineering models
  • Analyze large technical datasets to quantify system behavior, uncertainty, and improvement opportunities
  • Translate R&D findings into clear recommendations for product, process, or algorithm changes
  • Document experimental methods and results for internal reuse and technical review
  • Present findings to cross-functional teams; support customer-facing technical discussions as needed
  • Partner with hardware, firmware, software, and applications engineering to validate ideas on real tools
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of characterization methods, analysis workflows, and tool capabilities
  • Help triage and root-cause challenging technical issues that require experimental and analytical depth
Qualifications
  • PHD. in Physics, Applied Physics, Materials Science, or related field (strong research Master’s considered)
  • Proven ability to design original experiments, analyze data, and draw defensible conclusions
  • Strong intuition for measurement systems: noise, dynamics, stability, and systematic error
  • Hands-on lab experience with precision instrumentation (oscilloscopes, cables, power)
  • Python for scientific computing and data analysis (NumPy, Pandas, plotting stack)
  • Ability to turn experimental data into models or algorithm prototypes
  • Strong oral and written communication skills

Nice to Have

  • Experience with electron microscopes (SEM, TEM) or other ebeam or semiconductor test equipment
  • Semiconductor process or cleanroom exposure
  • Signal or image processing for scientific / metrology data
  • MATLAB, Spotfire, Exensio, or similar analysis tools
  • Some exposure to HDL (Verilog, System Verilog, VHDL)
Pay RangeUSD $120,000.00 - USD $180,000.00 /Yr.

About PDF Solutions, Inc.

PDF Solutions, Inc. is a provider of infrastructure technologies and services for integrated circuits (IC). The Company's technologies and services focus on the IC manufacturing process life cycle. It operates in the segment of licensing and implementation of yield improvement solutions for integrated circuit manufacturers. Its solutions combine software, test chips, an electrical wafer test system, methodologies and professional services. The Company's characterization vehicle infrastructure (CVi) enables customers to electrically characterize the manufacturing process, and establish fail-rate information needed to calibrate manufacturing yield models and prioritize yield improvement activities. Its Exensio YieldAware solution incorporates all of the components of solutions, such as CVi, yield management software systems, and business intelligence dashboards. The Company's Exensio product family includes Exensio-Yield, Exensio-Control, Exensio-Test and Exensio-Char.
Learn more about PDF Solutions, Inc.
Size
407 employees
Market Cap
$1 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$40.3 million
5 Year Trend
+0.7%
Revenue
$88 million
NASDAQ

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