Senior Hardware Validation & Failure Analysis Engineer

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc•Santa Clara, CA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Hardware Validation & Failure Analysis Engineer to lead hardware validation, system bring-up, failure analysis, and product sustainment activities across complex computing and embedded hardware platforms. In this role, you will be responsible for evaluating product performance throughout the product lifecycle, from pre-silicon validation and post-silicon bring-up to manufacturing support, field issue resolution, and long-term product sustainment. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in hardware debugging, root cause analysis, and system-level validation with a hands-on approach to troubleshooting and cross-functional collaboration. You will work closely with hardware design teams, manufacturing partners, suppliers, and quality organizations to ensure product reliability, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction.

Requirements

Strong experience in hardware validation, system bring-up, failure analysis, product sustainment, or related engineering roles.
Strong hands-on experience troubleshooting and debugging hardware systems down to the component level.
Deep understanding of hardware design principles, including circuit design, PCB design, and system integration.
Experience performing root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions for hardware failures.
Knowledge of hardware validation methodologies, debugging techniques, and reliability testing.
Experience supporting manufacturing, quality, and field-return investigations.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across global, cross-functional teams.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in validating and characterizing: DC/DC power systems, FPGA and CPLD devices, PCIe interfaces, DDR4 memory systems, SRAM, ASIC-based platforms.
Experience with signal integrity analysis and voltage/frequency characterization.
Familiarity with hardware development and design tools, including: Cadence, SPICE and related simulation tools, Schematic capture and PCB design tools.
Experience with failure analysis techniques, including both non-destructive and destructive analysis methods.
Knowledge of EDVT, MDVT, ORT, and other environmental and reliability stress testing methodologies.
Experience analyzing manufacturing yield issues and implementing process improvements.
Working knowledge of Python scripting and the ability to modify and maintain existing automation scripts.
Experience working with OEMs, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and component vendors.

Responsibilities

Lead hardware validation activities for new product introductions, including pre-silicon and post-silicon validation and system bring-up.
Support hardware development teams during platform bring-up and identify design risks, performance issues, and integration challenges early in the development cycle.
Develop and execute validation plans to verify hardware functionality, reliability, and performance.
Characterize and validate critical subsystems and components, including power delivery, memory, high-speed interfaces, and programmable devices.
Perform voltage, frequency, signal integrity, and performance characterization at both system and component levels.
Conduct comprehensive hardware failure analysis on field returns, manufacturing failures, and customer-reported issues.
Perform hands-on debugging and troubleshooting at the system, board, and component levels to isolate root causes.
Utilize both non-destructive and destructive failure analysis techniques to identify electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing defects.
Analyze field failure data and identify trends related to PCB, PCBA, component, and mechanical failures.
Drive corrective and preventive actions to improve product quality and reliability.
Oversee hardware performance and reliability following first customer shipment (FCS) and throughout the product lifecycle.
Support sustainment efforts for existing and newly released products, including troubleshooting, repair, rework, and component replacement.
Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and field support teams to resolve escalated product issues.
Provide technical leadership for manufacturing yield improvement initiatives and production issue resolution.
Partner with contract manufacturers and OEM partners to optimize manufacturing processes and improve product quality.
Work closely with hardware designers, mechanical engineers, manufacturing teams, suppliers, and vendors to resolve complex technical issues.
Recommend hardware, software, mechanical, and manufacturing process improvements based on validation findings and failure analysis results.
Support component qualification activities, including alternate source qualification and component substitutions.
Collaborate with product management and business stakeholders to understand customer requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
Communicate technical findings, project status, risks, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.