Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer

altera· 191 Altera Corporation
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📍 San Jose, California, United StatesFull time
Full time191 Altera Corporation

About this role

Job Details:

Job Description:

About Altera

At Altera™, our independence as the world’s largest pureplay FPGA solutions provider gives us the focus, speed, and agility to innovate without compromise. With more than four decades of industryleading FPGA expertise, our singular mission is to deliver the programmable technologies that help customers differentiate, innovate, and scale across rapidly evolving markets like AI, cloud, networking, and edge. As an independent company, we move faster, invest deeper, and partner more closely—empowering our teams to drive breakthrough innovation and shape the future of the FPGA industry.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced semiconductor Physical Failure Analysis Engineer responsible for root cause identification on yield, reliability and customer returns.  Drives failure identification in processes and products and searches for improvements to enhance yield, performance, quality, and reliability of next generation product and package technologies. Collaborates with design and process development engineers to determine relationship of materials properties and electrical performance and thoroughly explains fundamental aspects of material and device interactions as needed to assist in the transfer new product to manufacturing. Adds to the development of electrical, analytical, and mechanical methodologies by developing failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and maintaining control plans throughout the product lifecycle. Applies strategic failure analysis capabilities for future technologies and products, drives automation and improvement of failure analysis process, and conducts innovative use of new analytical tools, equipment, and methodologies. Develops, records, and performs failure analysis on systems and components to identify root cause, analyze failure reports, and recommend corrective action to prevent reoccurrence of problems.

Key Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with Product/Yield/Reliability Engineers to drive fault isolation during product development, yield improvement and reliability risk assessments

  • Support physical failure analysis and root cause determination of semiconductor device failures

  • Collaborate with Fault isolation engineers or Independently interpret Emission microscopes, Laser Voltage Probing and OBIRCH data and to define physical failure analysis process

  • Independently define, and execute physical failure analysis tools such as SEM, FIB and EDX

  • Experienced with layout, schematic and design analysis tools

  • Develop reports and communicate findings to the responsible engineers on a regular basis

Salary Range

The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance.

$149,100 - $215,925 USD

We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations.

#LI-MD1

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

  • BS degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field

  • 8+ years of experience in semiconductor failure analysis

  • 8+ years of experience with Layout & Design tools (Virtuoso, Avalon, SysNav, etc.)

  • 8+ years of experience independently implementing failure analysis using die milling/thinning, Focused Ion Beam milling for layer-by-layer deprocessing of silicon die, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy

  • 8+ years of experience driving investigations to root cause and driving yield/reliability improvements

Preferred Qualifications

  • Understanding of FPGA architecture

  • Understanding design debug features (DFT)

  • Experience with using Teradyne Ultraflex tester

  • Experience in semiconductor packaging failure analysis.

Job Type:

Regular

Shift:

Shift 1 (United States of America)

Primary Location:

San Jose, California, United States

Additional Locations:

Posting Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer position at altera?
The salary for this Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer role at altera is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer position at altera located?
This Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer role at altera is based in San Jose, California, United States. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer role at altera full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a Full time position. It is posted as a Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer role in the 191 Altera Corporation department at altera.
Which team or department does the Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer at altera belong to?
This Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer position is part of the 191 Altera Corporation department at altera. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer position at altera?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to altera's official application portal hosted on workday where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer job at altera posted?
This Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer position at altera was posted on Aug 22, 2026. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Product Physical Failure Analysis Engineer
altera
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