Principal/Staff Test Engineer

About the role

The Principal/Staff Test Engineer is responsible for the sustained performance, stability, and optimization of production test solutions for Nexperia IC products in high-volume manufacturing environments. This role ensures the robustness, reliability, and quality of test programs deployed across multiple global production sites, while driving continuous improvement initiatives in support of operational excellence. 

What you will do

Production Sustaining & Test Program Maintenance 

• Maintain, optimize, and enhance existing production test programs to ensure stable, repeatable, and high-quality test performance. 
• Conduct detailed investigations into yield excursions, test escapes, inline failures, and correlation issues across production sites. 
• Ensure all test program changes are fully validated, documented, and released in accordance with quality management requirements. 

Issue Resolution & Customer Containment 

• Lead root-cause analysis activities for test-related customer returns and field issues. 
• Implement containment actions focused on improving test coverage, eliminating test holes, and preventing recurrence. 
• Provide timely and accurate technical responses to support internal quality, customer service, and product engineering teams. 

NPI, Industrialization & Production Support 

• Support new product introduction (NPI), industrialization and smooth transfer of test programs, hardware, and test flows between global manufacturing locations. 
• Monitor and drive improvements in test time, equipment utilization, and parallel test capability. 
• Ensure program compatibility and correlation across multiple ATE platforms and sites. 

Hardware & Equipment Interfaces 

• Support sustaining activities for load boards, probe cards, and interface hardware; conduct schematic reviews and updates as necessary. 
• Collaborate with hardware design teams on engineering changes, hardware robustness, and long-term maintainability. 
• Assist production sites and equipment engineering teams with tester, handler, and hardware troubleshooting. 

Continuous Improvement 

• Drive cost-reduction initiatives through test time optimization, hardware improvements, and flow enhancements. 
• Support standardization of test methods, documentation practices, and equipment usage across global test centers. 
• Contribute to cross-functional improvement programs aligned with quality, cost, and operational targets. 

Documentation & Compliance 

• Prepare and maintain technical reports, engineering change notices, test specifications, and validation records. 
• Ensure all sustaining activities are aligned with corporate quality systems, safety standards, and reliability expectations. 

What you will need

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering or equivalent discipline. •
• Proven experience in sustaining or production test engineering within the semiconductor industry. 
• Strong knowledge of Analog and Logic IC devices; experience with power management ICs is advantageous. 
• Proficiency in C/C++ or equivalent programming languages used in ATE environments. 
• Practical experience with semiconductor ATE platforms (ETS88, ETS364, Magnum preferred). 
• Ability to interpret PCB schematics; PCB or circuit design experience is beneficial. 
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and problem-solving skills. 
• Customer-oriented mindset with a strong understanding of the impact of test performance on manufacturing and product quality. 
• Effective communication skills in written and spoken English. 
• Familiarity with lab equipment (oscilloscope, function generator, curve tracer) is an advantage. 
• Demonstrated technical aptitude and strong troubleshooting capability.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional and cross-cultural teams. 
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently with minimal supervision. 
• Strong ownership and accountability with a continuous improvement mindset. 
• Ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic production environment. 

Talent acquisition based on Nexperia vacancies is not appreciated. Nexperia job adverts are Nexperia copyright © material and the word Nexperia® is a registered trademark.

D&I Statement

As an equal-opportunity employer, Nexperia values diversity not just because it is the right thing to do but because diverse teams perform better. We are dedicated to being inclusive, and a proof point of this dedication is that we were the main partner of the very first Dutch Paralympic Team NL House during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all, and we consider all applicants fairly, as well as providing a safe work environment and reasonable adjustments where requested.

In addition, we offer our colleagues the possibility to join employee resource groups such as the Pride Network Group or global and local Women's groups. Nexperia is committed to increasing women in management positions to 30% by 2030.