Sr Staff Engineer, Factory Board Test (AI2502) San Jose, California
SiMa.ai
San Jose, CA, USA
USD 155,400-248,600 / year + Equity
Posted on Jun 3, 2026
Description
Job Title: Sr Staff Engineer, Factory Board Test
Job Location: San Jose, CA (This position requires a full-time, on-site presence in our San Jose, CA office)
Job ID: AI2502
Description:
As Senior Staff Engineer, Factory Board Test, you will be a key technical leader within the Engineering team responsible for defining and driving the board-level test strategy for SiMa's MLSoC™ platform and associated printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). You will architect end-to-end test solutions spanning Design for Testability (DfT), In-Circuit Test (ICT), and functional board test, ensuring robust manufacturing quality and accelerating hardware bring-up. Your work will directly impact product quality, time-to-market, and the long-term testability of SiMa’s embedded edge AI platforms.
Areas of Focus:
Define, implement and maintain comprehensive PCB board test architectures for current functional test strategies. Develop automated test programs and fixtures, drive DfT guidelines with hardware design teams, and own test coverage analysis from prototype through high-volume manufacturing. Create a roadmap for ICT and DfT for higher volume manufacturing across multiple Contract Manufacturers (CMs).
Key Responsibilities (including but not limited to):
- Board Test Architecture: Define and own the full board test strategy for complex, high-speed PCBAs, including selection and integration of ICT, flying-probe, and functional test methodologies where applicable.
- DfT Collaboration: Partner with PCB layout and digital/analog hardware design teams early in the design cycle to embed testability features: test points, bed-of-nails access planning, and test pad placement rules.
- Functional Board Test: Architect, implement and maintain functional test sequences (FT) executed via bench instruments and/or custom test fixtures to validate power delivery networks, clock domains, memory interfaces, high-speed I/O (PCIe, USB, Ethernet, MIPI), and SoC boot.
- Test Fixture Design: Define electrical and mechanical requirements for bed-of-nails and/or custom functional test fixtures; work with fixture fabrication vendors through bring-up and qualification.
- Test Software Development: Develop and maintain test software in Python and/or C/C++ for automated test execution, data logging, and analysis; integrate with manufacturing execution systems (MES) and test data management platforms.
- ICT & Flying-Probe Programs: Develop fixture and probe-card specifications in collaboration with test equipment vendors as needed to support future high volume manufacturing tests.
- Failure Analysis & Debug: Lead board-level failure analysis using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG debuggers, and network analyzers; produce detailed failure reports and drive root-cause and corrective action (RCCA) with hardware and layout teams.
- Test Coverage & Metrics: Define fault coverage targets, track test escapes, and continuously improve test coverage; produce yield and defect rate reports for manufacturing reviews.
- NPI & Sustaining Support: Drive test readiness from prototype (EVT/DVT/PVT) through mass production; support contract manufacturers (CMs) with test program transfers, training, and ongoing sustaining engineering.
Required Background:
- Education & Experience: BS/MS in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering with 12+ years of hardware engineering experience, including 7+ years dedicated to PCB board test development and architecture.
- Test Methodology Expertise: Hands-on experience with In-Circuit Test (ICT), flying-probe, and functional board test across complex, high-layer-count PCBAs.
- High-Speed Digital Interfaces: Strong understanding of high-speed interfaces (PCIe Gen 3/4/5, DDR4/5, USB 3.x, Ethernet, MIPI CSI-2/D-PHY) and their test challenges at the board level.
- Power Integrity & Signal Integrity: Experience testing and validating power delivery networks (PDN) and high-speed signal integrity on complex SoC-based boards.
- DfT Skills: Demonstrated ability to drive DfT guidelines into PCB designs early in the design cycle
- Test Software: Proficiency in Python (preferred) and/or C/C++ for automated test scripting, instrument control (SCPI/VISA), data analysis, and integration with MES/TDM systems.
- Lab Instrumentation: Hands-on skill with bench instruments including oscilloscopes, signal/spectrum analyzers, power supplies, DMMs, logic analyzers, and JTAG debug probes.
- Manufacturing Environment: Experience deploying and supporting test programs at contract manufacturers (CMs); knowledge of IPC standards (IPC-A-610, IPC-7711) and SMT/PCB assembly processes is a plus.
Test Equipment Proficiency: Practical experience programming and maintaining ATE platforms such as Teradyne TestStation/ICT, Keysight (Agilent) 3070, GenRad, or equivalent is a plus.
Personal Attributes:
Can-do attitude. Strong team player who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment. Curious, creative, and systematic in solving complex hardware problems. Execution and results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership across the full test lifecycle. Self-driven, thinks strategically about long-term testability, and is highly accountable. Excellent communication skills with the ability to work across hardware, software, and manufacturing teams.
The annual salary for this position ranges from $155,400 - $248,600. The actual annual salary offered will depend on several factors, including - among others - job-related skills, experience, technical expertise, qualifications, work location, and business needs. The annual salary range for this position is subject to change and may be adjusted in the future.
In addition to base salary, this role is also eligible for private company equity, and a comprehensive package of employee benefits. Please note that the salary ranges listed for U.S. roles reflect base salary only and do not include equity or other forms of compensation.
EEO Employer: SiMa is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
