Microelectronics Failure Analysis Scientist

Job Summary

The Aerospace Physical Sciences Laboratories (PSL) is a diverse scientific organization that provides a broad and innovative research and development backplane for a growing space enterprise.  PSL’s impact is grown through a diverse research portfolio that blends foundational scientific research with cutting-edge technology development to serve a broad customer base. PSL’s exclusive ability to work with all stakeholders: (government, industry, and academia) enables us to provide novel solutions to the most challenging issues in current and future technology applications. The strength of PSL comes from the combination of cutting-edge tools and facilities, a vast repository of space-system knowledge, and the extensive technical expertise of our people. We harness these tools and expertise in over 150 different laboratories to tackle the new challenges for the space enterprise.   

The Microelectronics Technology Department (MTD) is part of PSL with specialized laboratories for testing, accelerating, and analyzing, failures in electronics used for space system. MTD is comprised of two sections: one that performs radiation effects testing and discrete microelectronics testing, while the other section performs failure analysis on microelectronics using tools that can identify anomalies from the macroscopic down to the atomic scale.  MTD is looking for a Microelectronics Failure Analysis Scientist (Research Scientist – Microelectronics / Semiconductor Engineering) to support investigations of physics of failure in silicon CMOS, III-V devices, and other advanced materials and technologies for space applications.  

Highlights of our lab's capabilities can be seen here: Virtual Tour 

Work Model  

This is a full-time position based in El Segundo, CA, which requires 100% onsite work.  

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Provide technical support to national security space programs, internal, and academic collaborators   

• Conduct research on microelectronic device technologies for application in space systems, including developing new physical analysis techniques and developing knowledge of hardware security verification 

• Perform failure analysis and anomaly resolution investigations of integrated circuits and other microelectronic devices using physical analysis techniques such as electron microscopy, focused ion beam, and electron beam induced current imaging 

• Present results of assessments/research internally, to customers, at scientific meetings, and publish research in refereed scientific journals 

• Support the adoption and assessment of new technologies and applications, space systems, including technology qualification and assurance 

• Innovation, velocity, and accountability will primarily be used to assess job performance  

• Develop capabilities in circuit & device modeling and materials physics simulation 

What You Need to be Successful 

Minimum Requirements for the Research Scientist – Microelectronics / Semiconductor Engineering: 

• PhD in electrical engineering, computer engineering, materials science, or physics is required 

• (6) or more years of progressively responsible professional scientific research experience is required  

• Experience with semiconductor foundry service, microelectronics processing, semiconductor physics, and microelectronics packaging techniques 

• Knowledge of physical analysis and fault isolation techniques such as electron microscopy, thermal imaging, focused ion beam, scanning/Transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM), or electron beam induced current (EBIC) imaging 

• Experience with Python / LabVIEW / MATLAB or similar software for data collection/analysis 

•  Willing to travel domestically up to 10% of the year to customer site/conferences 

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.  

How You Can Stand Out 

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:  

• Strong publication record and demonstrated ability to develop and execute innovative research projects especially those related to microelectronics is strongly preferred 

• Experience with semiconductor integrated circuits layout and design, PDK, DRC, VLSI, DFM, VLSI, architecture, BEOL technologies, 3D/advanced chip packaging techniques is highly desired 

• Experience with VHDL/Verilog/FPGA/Microprocessor programming  

• Understanding of circuit edit techniques or microelectronic hardware security