About this DFX Design Architect role at Altera
Job Details:
Job Description:
As a DFX Architect, you will be the technical authority for Altera’s next-generation FPGA and SoC families. You will define the overarching strategy for Design for Test (DFT) and Design for Debug (DFD) to ensure world-class quality, minimize Test Cost (TCO), and accelerate Time-to-Market (TTM). This is a high-visibility leadership role requiring collaboration with Silicon Architecture, Physical Design, and Post-Silicon Manufacturing teams across global sites.
Key Responsibilities
Architectural Strategy: Define and document DFX architectures for multi-die (chiplet) systems, high-speed transceivers, and massive FPGA fabrics.
Technology Leadership: Drive the adoption of advanced DFX features such as IEEE 1687 (IJTAG), IEEE 1838 (3D-IC), and High-Speed Link Testing (HSLT).
Test Cost Optimization: Develop strategies to reduce Test Data Volume (TDV) and Test Application Time (TAT) through advanced compression and adaptive testing techniques.
Debug Architecture: Lead the definition of on-chip debug infrastructures (e.g., logic analyzers, trace buffers, and scan-dump) to enable rapid root-cause analysis of complex silicon failures.
Cross-Functional Influence: Partner with Silicon Design Architects, Manufacturing and Post-Silicon System Debug experts to drive DFT and DFD feature requirements are baked into the hardware specifications as landing zone features
Tool & Flow Roadmap: Influence EDA vendors (Synopsys, Siemens/Mentor, Cadence) to align their roadmaps with Altera’s specific FPGA architectural needs.
Mentorship: Act as a technical beacon for the Penang engineering site, mentoring senior and staff engineers to elevate the organization's technical depth.
Qualifications:
Education
BS/MS or Ph.D. in Electrical/Electronics/Computer Engineering or a related field
Technical Requirements
Proven Track Record: Minimum 10–12 years of hands-on experience in DFT/DFD, with at least 4 years in an architectural or lead capacity. Familiar with the semiconductor end-to-end product life cycle for ASIC and FPGA
Advanced DFT Concepts: Deep expertise in Hierarchical DFT, Logic/Memory BIST, Scan Compression (EDT), Boundary Scan, JTAG/iJTAG and other established DFT standards.
Multi-Die/Chiplet Knowledge: Experience with 2.5D/3D packaging technologies and the specific DFX challenges associated with interposers and TSVs.
Silicon Debug: Expert knowledge of silicon bring-up, failure analysis, and the use of DFD hooks for in-system hardware/firmware co-debugging.
FPGA Architecture: (Highly Preferred) Specific understanding of FPGA-specific testing, such as configuration RAM testing and programmable interconnect verification.
Safety Standards: Proven experience in designing DFX architectures that meet ASIL-D (Automotive Safety Integrity Level) and other industrial functional safety standard requirements on semiconductor products
EDA & Tool Standards
Expertise in Tessent (Siemens), DesignCompiler/DFTMAX (Synopsys), or equivalent industry-leading suites.
Deep familiarity with IEEE standards (1149.1, 1149.6, 1500, 1687, 1838).
Proficiency in scripting (Tcl/Python) to build custom architectural modeling or validation tools.
Leadership & Soft Skills
Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance technical perfection with business constraints (die area overhead vs. test coverage).
Stakeholder Management: Experience presenting complex technical roadmaps to executive leadership and global stakeholders.
Problem Solving: A reputation for resolving "mission-critical" silicon issues that bridge design and manufacturing.
