Principal DFT Architect

Altera•San Jose, CA

1d•$209,500 - $299,200•Onsite

About The Position

The DFT Architect at Altera is a senior technical authority responsible for defining, driving, and governing next-generation DFT architecture across Altera’s most advanced FPGA, SoC, and multi-die silicon platforms. This role sits at the forefront of innovation in high-performance compute, AI acceleration, advanced packaging, and heterogeneous integration. You will own the end-to-end DFT strategy for complex, large-scale silicon programs and influence technical direction across multiple product generations. You will architect scalable, robust, and forward-looking DFT solutions spanning scan, compression, MBIST/LBIST, hierarchical DFT, IJTAG/IEEE standards, silicon debug, and production test optimization. You will partner deeply with architecture, RTL, physical design, validation, product engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure world-class testability, manufacturability, and silicon quality. This role requires exceptional depth in modern DFT methodologies, strong architectural vision, and the ability to drive alignment across broad engineering organizations. You will mentor teams, shape methodology roadmaps, and represent DFT as a key decision-maker in silicon architecture and execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field with 15+ years of industry experience.
10+ years architecting and implementing DFT solutions for complex SoC, FPGA, ASIC, or multi-die designs.
10+ years experience in scan architecture, ATPG, compression, MBIST, LBIST, boundary scan, and hierarchical DFT.
10+ years experience with RTL-to-GDS DFT integration including scan insertion, STA constraints, low-power DFT, and gate-level verification.
10+ years experience with industry-standard EDA tools for synthesis, scan insertion, ATPG, simulation/debug, formal verification, and STA.
10+ years experience supporting silicon bring-up, manufacturing test flows, yield analysis, and failure debug.
10+ years experience developing DFT automation using scripting languages (Perl, Python, TCL).
10+ years experience providing technical leadership and driving cross-functional alignment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field.
Experience with advanced fault models, diagnosis, and silicon analytics.
Experience with 2.5D/3D ICs, chiplet architectures, and high-speed IO/SerDes DFT.
Familiarity with IEEE DFT standards including IJTAG (1687), JTAG (1149.x), and embedded instrumentation.
Experience with power-aware DFT, low-power ATPG, and large-scale test optimization.
Experience with developing highly efficient & scalable DFT methodology & flows that incorporates AI technologies.
Experience mentoring teams and influencing DFT strategy across multiple product families.

Responsibilities

Define and drive the long-term DFT architecture for FPGA, SoC, processor, DSP, SERDES, IO, and multi-die/chiplet-based products.
Lead development of scalable DFT methodologies and flows across RTL, gate-level, hierarchical, and multi-die integration environments.
Architect state-of-the-art scan, compression, ATPG, MBIST, LBIST, boundary scan, and in-system test solutions to meet aggressive coverage, quality, and cost goals.
Drive DFT planning and integration for 2.5D/3D ICs, chiplets, and heterogeneous multi-die systems.
Collaborate with architecture, RTL, PD, STA, validation, and product engineering teams to ensure seamless DFT integration throughout the design lifecycle.
Establish and enforce DFT guidelines, test specifications, timing constraints, and signoff criteria across large engineering programs.
Lead root-cause analysis for pre-silicon and post-silicon test failures, yield issues, and manufacturing escapes.
Optimize production test strategies for coverage, test time, yield improvement, power-aware test, and overall efficiency.
Drive adoption of next-generation DFT technologies, automation, and best practices to improve productivity and scalability.
Mentor DFT engineers and provide technical leadership across multiple programs.