Staff DFT ATPG Engineer, AI Hardware

What To Expect
The Tesla AI Hardware team is at the forefront of revolutionizing artificial intelligence through cutting-edge hardware innovation. Comprising brilliant engineers and visionaries, the team designs and develops advanced AI inference chips tailored to accelerate Tesla’s machine learning capabilities. A key part of this effort is Dojo, Tesla's custom supercomputer system built to efficiently train massive neural networks on vast video data from the fleet. The work of Tesla's AI Hardware team powers the neural networks behind Full Self-Driving (FSD), and Tesla humanoid robot, Optimus, pushing the boundaries of computational efficiency and performance. By creating custom silicon and optimized architectures, the team ensures Tesla remains a leader in AI-driven automotive and energy solutions, shaping a future where intelligent machines enhance human life.

Tesla's AI hardware team is seeking a highly motivated ASIC RTL Design Engineer with a specialization in the mathematical and computational aspects of custom AI accelerators. You will focus on designing high-performance, power-efficient RTL for math-intensive components that power our AI training and inference systems. This role emphasizes expertise in tensor operations, matrix computations, and optimized data paths for advanced AI workloads. This role is located in Palo Alto, CA or Austin, TX. If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of low-precision arithmetic, quantization techniques, and hardware acceleration for machine learning, this is your opportunity to contribute to revolutionary AI hardware.

Our Silicon Engineering team delivers silicon that meets production quality targets from first tapeout. As a Staff DFT ATPG Engineer, you will own pattern generation, ATE test program development, and DFT timing closure — from pre-Si ATPG through OSAT deployment — ensuring structural test quality and production efficiency at scale.

What You'll Do

Generate production-quality ATPG patterns using Tessent for stuck-at, transition delay, path delay, cell-aware, and small delay defect (SDD) fault models
Achieve and exceed coverage targets (>99% stuck-at, >98% transition) while minimizing pattern count for ATE test time
Debug low coverage areas — X-state sources, blocking logic, untestable faults, and ATPG abort conditions
Understanding and familiarity of hybrid bonding test concepts
Perform gate-level pattern simulation to validate pattern integrity
Support hierarchical and flat ATPG methodologies for multi-million gate SoC designs
Architect and develop comprehensive ATE test programs covering ATPG, MBIST, Repair, Functional, DC, and HSIO
Own NPI silicon bring-up for structural tests — debug and root cause failures to closure
Deploy and optimize test programs at OSATs for yield, quality, reliability, and cost
Develop custom test methods for product-specific requirements and contribute to wafer probe and final test hardware design


What You'll Bring

Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
10+ years across ATPG, ATE test development, and DFT timing
Expert-level Tessent proficiency — TestKompress and MemoryBIST
Deep knowledge of fault models: stuck-at, transition, path delay, cell-aware, and SDD
ATE test program development and OSAT deployment experience
SDC constraint development for DFT test modes; timing closure using Tempus
Ability to use agentic AI flows to automate ATPG and ATE test workflows


Benefits
Compensation and Benefits
Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:
Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
Employee Assistance Program
Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
Tesla Babies program
Commuter benefits
Employee discounts and perks program


Expected Compensation

$128,000 - $312,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

, Tesla
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