Sr Staff Engineer, Factory Board Test (AI2502)

This position requires a full-time, on-site presence in our San Jose, CA office.

About the Role

As Senior Staff Engineer, Factory Board Test, you will be a key technical leader within the Engineering team responsible for defining and driving the board-level test strategy for SiMa's MLSoC™ platform and associated printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). You will architect end-to-end test solutions spanning Design for Testability (DfT), In-Circuit Test (ICT), and functional board test, ensuring robust manufacturing quality and accelerating hardware bring-up. Your work will directly impact product quality, time-to-market, and the long-term testability of SiMa’s embedded edge AI platforms.

Areas of Focus

• Define, implement and maintain comprehensive PCB board test architectures for current functional test strategies.
• Develop automated test programs and fixtures, drive DfT guidelines with hardware design teams, and own test coverage analysis from prototype through high-volume manufacturing.
• Create a roadmap for ICT and DfT for higher volume manufacturing across multiple Contract Manufacturers (CMs).

Responsibilities

• Board Test Architecture: Define and own the full board test strategy for complex, high-speed PCBAs, including selection and integration of ICT, flying-probe, and functional test methodologies where applicable.
• DfT Collaboration: Partner with PCB layout and digital/analog hardware design teams early in the design cycle to embed testability features: test points, bed-of-nails access planning, and test pad placement rules.
• Functional Board Test: Architect, implement and maintain functional test sequences (FT) executed via bench instruments and/or custom test fixtures to validate power delivery networks, clock domains, memory interfaces, high-speed I/O (PCIe, USB, Ethernet, MIPI), and SoC boot.
• Test Fixture Design: Define electrical and mechanical requirements for bed-of-nails and/or custom functional test fixtures; work with fixture fabrication vendors through bring-up and qualification.
• Test Software Development: Develop and maintain test software in Python and/or C/C++ for automated test execution, data logging, and analysis; integrate with manufacturing execution systems (MES) and test data management platforms.
• ICT & Flying-Probe Programs: Develop fixture and probe-card specifications in collaboration with test equipment vendors as needed to support future high volume manufacturing tests.
• Failure Analysis & Debug: Lead board-level failure analysis using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers, and network analyzers; produce detailed failure reports and drive root-cause and corrective action (RCCA) with hardware and layout teams.
• Test Coverage & Metrics: Define fault coverage targets, track test escapes, and continuously improve test coverage; produce yield and defect rate reports for manufacturing reviews.
• NPI & Sustaining Support: Drive test readiness from prototype (EVT/DVT/PVT) through mass production; support contract manufacturers (CMs) with test program transfers, training, and ongoing sustaining engineering.

Requirements

• Education & Experience: BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with 12+ years of hardware engineering experience, including 7+ years dedicated to PCB board test development and architecture.
• Test Methodology Expertise: Hands-on experience with In-Circuit Test (ICT), flying-probe, and functional board test across complex, high-layer-count PCBAs.
• High-Speed Digital Interfaces: Strong understanding of high-speed interfaces (PCIe Gen 3/4/5, DDR4/5, USB 3.x, Ethernet, MIPI CSI-2/D-PHY) and their test challenges at the board level.
• Power Integrity & Signal Integrity: Experience testing and validating power delivery networks (PDN) and high-speed signal integrity on complex SoC-based boards.
• DfT Skills: Demonstrated ability to drive DfT guidelines into PCB designs early in the design cycle.
• Test Software: Proficiency in Python (preferred) and/or C/C++ for automated test scripting, instrument control (SCPI/VISA), data analysis, and integration with MES/TDM systems.
• Lab Instrumentation: Hands-on skill with bench instruments including oscilloscopes, signal/spectrum analyzers, power supplies, DMMs, logic analyzers, and JTAG debug probes.
• Manufacturing Environment: Experience deploying and supporting test programs at contract manufacturers (CMs); knowledge of IPC standards (IPC-A-610, IPC-7711) and SMT/PCB assembly processes is a plus.
• Test Equipment Proficiency: Practical experience programming and maintaining ATE platforms such as Teradyne TestStation/ICT, Keysight (Agilent) 3070, GenRad, or equivalent is a plus.

Personal Attributes

• Can-do attitude.
• Strong team player who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Curious, creative, and systematic in solving complex hardware problems.
• Execution and results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership across the full test lifecycle.
• Self-driven, thinks strategically about long-term testability, and is highly accountable.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across hardware, software, and manufacturing teams.

Pay

The annual salary for this position ranges from $155,400 - $248,600. The actual annual salary offered will depend on several factors, including job-related skills, experience, technical expertise, qualifications, work location, and business needs. This role is also eligible for private company equity and a comprehensive package of employee benefits.