Staff Foundry Engineer

Description
Synaptics is leading the charge in AI at the Edge, bringing AI closer to end users and transforming how we engage with intelligent connected devices, whether at home, at work, or on the move. As the go-to partner for the world's most forward-thinking product innovators, Synaptics powers the future with its cutting-edge Synaptics Astra AI-Native embedded compute, Veros wireless connectivity, and multimodal sensing solutions. We're making the digital experience smarter, faster, more intuitive, secure, and seamless. From touch, display, and biometrics to AI-driven wireless connectivity, video, vision, audio, speech, and security processing, Synaptics is the force behind the next generation of technology enhancing how we live, work, and play.

Overview
Synaptics is looking for a Staff Foundry Engineer to join our dynamic and growing organization. You will be responsible for supporting new product introduction and the continuous care of mass production sustaining and yield monitoring & improvement during production. You will also be responsible for direct communication with the product team, design team and the management of the ASIC supply chain vendors: wafer foundries and test houses. This position reports to the Sr. Manager, Foundry Engineering.

Responsibilities & Competencies
Job Duties

• Manage all aspects of foundry related to new product introduction, from process/device selection, design kit enablement, tapeout, pilot run through volume ramp into mass production, and full life cycle
• Assess new foundry process node and alternative fab solution
• Create process control plans tailored to consumer, industrial, or automotive standards and ensure its successful execution
• Ensure new devices meet yield, test coverage, reliability, and cost targets
• Partner with Product team for electrical target, yield performance and manufacturing spec for wafer sort, final test, and system-level test
• Set appropriate device control limits that ensure proper yield and quality performance
• Validate device/yield of wafer process/material change
• Evaluate customer returns, driving the necessary failure analysis, and identifying process improvement to bring issues to a close
• Drive continuous improvement to meet yield, cost, quality and dppm targets
• Disposition production lots based on yield analysis, bin yield limits, fab PCM data, and other metrics
• Summarize yield trends and improvement efforts in regular meetings with cross-functional team and management
• Engage with Product team/PM to support the development of new products as well as early wafer/sample delivery

Competencies

• Proactive, self-starter, able to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Well organized with strong attention to detail; proactively ensures work is accurate
• Positive attitude and work ethic; unafraid to ask questions and explore new ideas
• Solid project management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and drive multiple projects at various stages of development
• Resourceful and able to solve problems through adapting technology and a solid understanding of wafer process and product architecture
• Ability to make informed decisions based on experience and data
• Strong team player with the ability to work collaboratively within a diverse global cross-functional team
• Good communication & presentation skills in English; ability to run cross-functional meetings

Qualifications (Requirements)

• Bachelor's degree (Masters preferred) in Electrical Engineering, Material Science, Chemical Engineering or related field or equivalent
• 8+ years in semiconductor Product/Foundry Engineering
• Broad understanding of NPI flow, design kit, wafer process, silicon test, reliability, quality, and failure analysis techniques
• Knowledge of specialty process such as MS, RF, NVM, HV, BCD, SOI etc.
• Experience with device characterization and 7nm-180nm wafer process
• Prior working experience with wafer foundry for NPI ramp, production sustaining and continuous yield improvement
• Good understanding of semiconductor processes and demonstrated ability to analyze the relationship between wafer process and failure mechanism
• Expertise in statistical analysis and hands on experience in data analysis software such as Exensio, DataPower, JMP or equivalent
• Ability to travel internationally up to 10%

*Belief in Diversity

Synaptics is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to workforce diversity. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, or genetic information.*