Principal Product Engineer

As a Principal Product Engineer at indie, you will play a critical role in the Product Engineering team, supporting the release of Arm microcontroller-based ASIC automotive semiconductor products throughout the complete product lifecycle. You will be responsible for developing production test plans, ensuring product performance, and analyzing statistical data to establish robust test limits and maintain compliance with datasheet specifications.

This role requires close collaboration with multiple disciplines, including Engineering, Applications, Marketing, and Quality & Reliability, to identify and resolve issues across sample, pre-production, and full production stages. You will also work with internal and external test facilities to facilitate the successful production release of new products.

A strong understanding of semiconductor product manufacturing (including foundry, assembly, and test processes) and the ability to coordinate across multiple engineering disciplines worldwide are essential for success in this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with design and ATE engineers to define and document specification compliance, test flow, test plans, test correlation, and full test coverage.
• Work with product reliability and packaging teams to establish qualification test plans and schedules, ensuring timely completion of AEC-Q100 qualifications and PPAP.
• Implement cost-reduction strategies by optimizing assembly/test yield, test time, and scrap costs while following an Automotive Zero-Defect Strategy.
• Perform data analysis, failure analysis, and root cause identification using techniques such as 8D problem-solving.
• Conduct Process/Voltage/Temperature (PVT) characterization and determine datasheet limit calculations.
• Ensure proper NPI and production manufacturing documentation, including BOMs, test solutions, assembly records, and safe launch plans.
• Coordinate with foundries, planning, program management, OSAT assembly/test vendors, and internal engineering teams from tape-out to production release.
• Provide real-time customer support for design, product, and quality-related issues.
• Monitor assembly and test yields, continuously identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support the RMA process by performing system and ATE tests for customer returns.
• Debug system-level failures, verify customer failure modes, and implement corrective actions.
• Identify test escapes and drive necessary ATE program updates to ensure zero DPPM.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent (Master’s degree preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in semiconductor product engineering.
• Familiarity with ARM microcontroller flash memory, analog ASIC products, and high-speed data communication protocols (e.g., MIPI). Experience with RF and mmWave products is a plus.
• Hands-on experience in ATE and bench characterization at both wafer and package levels. Familiarity with Advantest 93K, DFT techniques, memory/logic BIST, and SCAN shmoo methodologies.
• Strong proficiency in statistical data analysis tools such as Excel, JMP, YieldHub, DataPower, Data Conductor, or Galaxy.
• In-depth knowledge of product reliability standards (JEDEC, AEC-Q100) and zero-defect strategy implementation.
• Experience working with schematics tools for HTOL and BHAST schematics generation.
• Strong team collaboration and communication skills, with experience coordinating across internal teams and external subcontractors (e.g., foundries, assembly/test houses, reliability vendors).
• Expertise in customer return analysis, system-level and ATE testing, and failure analysis methodologies (FA techniques, 8D reporting).
• This role requires in-office work at least 3 days per week.