DFT Lead Engineer – Digital & Mixed-Signal Semiconductor Design

You know the difference between a chip that passes test and one that shouldn't have. At Texas Instruments, our DFT team is the last line of defense — and the first line of quality. We're looking for a DFT Lead who doesn't just implement test strategies — they define them, own them, and raise the bar on them.

📌 About the Role

Texas Instruments is seeking a DFT Lead to join our semiconductor design organization — one of the most technically rigorous and impactful teams in the global chip industry.

As the DFT Lead, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping how TI designs for testability across the full product development lifecycle. From defining DFT specifications and driving ATPG strategies to leading silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug, your fingerprint will be on every product that ships.
You'll lead and mentor a team of DFT engineers, collaborate cross-functionally with Design, Verification, and Manufacturing teams, and continuously evolve TI's DFT methodologies, tools, and processes. This is a role that demands both deep technical expertise and genuine leadership instinct.

If you're the kind of engineer who sees a complex design and immediately thinks about scan architecture, fault coverage, and yield impact — this role was built for you.


🛠️ Key Responsibilities

Develop and execute DFT methodologies, strategies, and guidelines to maximize test coverage, minimize test cost, and optimize production yield
Define and review DFT specifications — including scan insertion, test compression, boundary scan, memory BIST, and ATPG patterns — ensuring compliance with IEEE and industry standards
Evaluate and select appropriate DFT methodologies based on design complexity, coverage requirements, and time-to-market constraints
Work closely with the design team to influence design decisions early, ensuring DFT requirements are met without compromising performance, power, or area
Collaborate with cross-functional teams — Design, Verification, and Manufacturing — to define and drive DFT implementation throughout the product lifecycle
Drive continuous improvement in DFT methodologies, tools, and processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and reliability
Perform DFT sign-off activities — including coverage analysis, ATPG fault coverage analysis, DFT-related timing analysis, first-pass silicon bring-up, and post-silicon debug
Stay current with emerging DFT techniques, industry trends, and semiconductor testing advancements — and translate that knowledge into practice

✅ Required Skills

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field
Minimum 5 years of DFT experience with a focus on digital and mixed-signal designs in the semiconductor industry
Strong proficiency in DFT EDA tools — Cadence Modus, Genus, and related toolchains
Hands-on experience with ATPG, scan insertion, and test pattern generation for high-complexity designs
Expertise in DFT methodologies — scan compression, boundary scan, memory BIST, and JTAG (IEEE 1149.1)
Familiarity with silicon bring-up and post-silicon debug workflows
Strong knowledge of DFT industry standards and best practices
Experience with scripting languages (Perl, Python, TCL) for automation and data analysis
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills — able to identify, root-cause, and resolve DFT challenges across complex design environments

🌟 Preferred Qualifications

Proven experience leading DFT sign-off for high-complexity SoC or mixed-signal IC designs
Hands-on experience with logic BIST (LBIST) and embedded deterministic test (EDT)
Background in DFT for mixed-signal and analog IP blocks
Experience with production test correlation and yield analysis
Familiarity with DFT-aware physical design — scan routing, clock domain partitioning, test mode timing
Track record of leading and mentoring junior-to-mid DFT engineers on multi-project programs
Exposure to IEEE 1500, 1687 (iJTAG) or other advanced DFT standards
Experience with Tessent, Synopsys DFT Compiler, or multi-vendor DFT tool flows


🚀 Why Join Texas Instruments?

🔬 Work on Designs That Matter TI's semiconductor portfolio spans industrial, automotive, personal electronics, and communications. As DFT Lead, your work directly impacts the quality, reliability, and yield of products shipped to millions of end users globally.

🧠 Technical Leadership With Real Authority This isn't a DFT execution role — you'll define strategy, lead methodology, and own sign-off. Your decisions shape product outcomes from design through production.

📈 Career Growth on Your Terms TI offers structured career tracks across both technical (Senior→ Lead → Fellow) and people leadership paths, with genuine investment in your development.

🤝 Cross-Functional Collaboration at Scale You'll work with design, verification, manufacturing, and test engineering teams — building a network and impact that spans the full semiconductor development ecosystem.

💰 Competitive Compensation & Stability Market-leading salary, long-term incentives, comprehensive benefits, and the financial strength of a global Fortune 500 semiconductor leader.

🌱 A Culture of Continuous Improvement TI actively invests in evolving its methodologies, tools, and processes — and DFT is a critical pillar of that investment. You'll have the resources and mandate to drive real change.

📣 Call to Action
The best DFT engineers don't wait for test problems to surface — they design them out from the start.

If that mindset defines how you work, Apply Now .
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