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PDF Solutions

End-to-end analytics platform for semiconductors

Electron Optics Engineer

Full-TimeDeadline 9/18/27
$145k - $155k/yr
Expert
PhD
Milpitas, CA, USA
In Person
Hardware EngineeringHardware Systems Integration

About the job

Requirements
  • A PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field, and more than 5 years of relevant work experience.
  • Expertise in electron optics and a proven track record in designing and operating electron beam columns.
  • Experience in simulation and experimental characterization of electron sources.
  • Proficiency with electron optics simulation software such as MEBS or SIMION.
  • Experience running finite element software packages such as COMSOL or OPERA.
  • Proficiency with a scripting language such as Python or MATLAB.
  • Experience with high vacuum systems.
  • Experience with high voltage power supplies and electron beam electronics.
  • Background in surface science and electron-surface interactions.
  • Experience working with semiconductor manufacturing tools.
Responsibilities
  • Simulate electron optics columns and validate models using experimental measurements.
  • Develop new modes of column operation and drive column architecture design improvements.
  • Develop test methodologies, collect experimental data, and analyze data sets.
  • Convert findings into clear recommendations for product, process, or algorithm changes.
  • Create system requirements, error budgets, and tolerance analysis stack-ups.
  • Define specifications and acceptance tests for critical column components.
  • Diagnose and resolve complex issues involving electron optics, imaging systems, vacuum systems, and electronics.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of characterization methods, analysis workflows, and tool capabilities.
  • Collaborate with software, systems, electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing teams.
  • Prepare comprehensive technical reports and share findings with internal collaborators.
  • Drive innovation and technology development for next-generation tools.
Desired Qualifications
  • Prior experience with voltage contrast imaging.
  • Semiconductor process or cleanroom exposure.
  • Background in signal or image processing.

About the company

PDF Solutions provides an end-to-end analytics platform for the semiconductor industry, combining software tools and engineering services to help fabs improve manufacturing yields and operating efficiency. The software collects data from manufacturing processes, analyzes it, and visualizes results for engineers and data scientists, while engineering services cover process control, yield management, and failure analysis. It differentiates itself by offering a semiconductor-specific, integrated platform with data collection, analytics, and specialist services delivered through a software licensing and services model. The goal is to help semiconductor customers raise yields, reduce waste, and improve overall manufacturing efficiency by turning data into actionable insights.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Santa Clara, California

Founded

1992

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue reached $61.5 million; backlog hit $270.7 million on August 6, 2026.
  • Management reaffirmed 20% 2026 revenue growth after record secureWISE, DirectScan, and Exensio wins.
  • CONNECT 2026 on October 15–16 showcases Exensio Aurora and should accelerate enterprise sales.

What critics are saying

  • May 13, 2026 equity issuance diluted holders; Advantest sold 3.3 million shares.
  • Exensio Aurora beta starts September 2026; any adoption miss pressures 2026 growth targets.
  • Intel, TSMC, and Samsung can internalize analytics, shrinking PDF Solutions' moat by 2027.

What makes PDF Solutions unique

  • Exensio Aurora targets petabyte-scale semiconductor manufacturing data with agentic AI, September 9, 2026.
  • PDF Solutions combines software, measurement hardware, and engineering services across the semiconductor workflow.
  • Deep semiconductor semantics distinguish Exensio from generic cloud analytics platforms.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

15%

1 year growth

15%

2 year growth

14%
ICO Optics
Sep 10th, 2026
PDF Solutions unveils Exensio Aurora AI analytics architecture.

PDF Solutions unveils Exensio Aurora AI analytics architecture. By ICO Optics / September 10, 2026 This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links, at no cost to you. PDF Solutions is set to introduce Exensio Aurora, a groundbreaking AI-first analytics architecture designed for modern semiconductor manufacturing. This scalable framework addresses the massive surge in industry data volumes, which have expanded by an astonishing 600% since 2022. The new architecture will be officially unveiled during the upcoming CONNECT event in San Francisco. By safely implementing agentic AI across operations, the platform aims to revolutionize how manufacturers handle petabyte-scale data. Table of Contents The data explosion in modern manufacturing. Advanced packaging, 3D architectures, and heterogeneous integration have driven a major structural transformation in the technology sector. These innovations create massive streams of information that traditional legacy systems simply cannot keep pace with. To explore more breakthroughs shaping the modern technological landscape, check out its latest optics articles for expert insights. Industry complexities are escalating faster than conventional intelligence tools can manage effectively. Overcoming the 95% unexamined data barrier. Traditional analytics software typically leaves more than 95% of collected manufacturing data completely unexamined. This massive blind spot prevents organizations from achieving true operational coherence and efficiency. Standard cloud platforms also lack the specific equipment connectivity and deep industry context required for semiconductor ecosystems. Bridging these critical operational gaps demands specialized intelligence frameworks built from the ground up. Leveraging deep semiconductor semantics. PDF Solutions developed Exensio Aurora to leverage deep semiconductor semantics for both online and offline workflows. Artificial intelligence serves as the foundational core, driving everything from model training to automated data ingestion. For readers interested in hardware advancements and precision engineering gear, its curated product reviews offer detailed evaluations. Intelligent workflow guardrails ensure that automated actions remain safe and predictable across complex supply chains. Transforming metrics into actionable decisions. The ultimate goal of this scalable architecture is to convert raw manufacturing data into actionable decisions at scale. Shifting the competitive advantage from mere data collection to active operational coherence is vital for future success. As the industry continues to evolve, smart automation will remain at the forefront of engineering excellence. Empowering teams with contextualized insights will redefine standards across global manufacturing networks. Additional Reading:

Yahoo Finance
Aug 7th, 2026
PDF Solutions posts record $271M backlog with 19% revenue growth to $61.5M

PDF Solutions reported second-quarter revenue of $61.5 million, up 19% year-over-year, with first-half revenue growing 22%. Platform revenue reached $49.1 million, whilst volume-based revenue surged 45% compared to the same quarter last year. The company's backlog hit a record $271 million, up 10% quarter-over-quarter and 16% year-over-year. Operating margin improved to 22%, approximately 300 basis points higher than Q2 2025, despite gross margin contracting to 73% due to perpetual software licence mix. Earnings per share rose 42% to $0.27. PDF Solutions secured eight-figure contracts for SecureWise and DirectScan systems, along with multiple seven-figure Excensio deals. The firm placed three new e-Probe e-beam inspection machines, including two with new customers. PDF Solutions reaffirmed its 20% full-year revenue growth guidance for 2026.

Insider Monkey
May 21st, 2026
5 oversold growth stocks to invest in now.

5 oversold growth stocks to invest in now. Published on May 21, 2026 at 2:55 pm by noor ul ain rehman in news. Page 1 of 5 5. PDF Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDFS) $44.58-0.45%. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15 PDF Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDFS) is one of the best oversold growth stocks to invest in now. Northland lifted the price target on PDF Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDFS) to $50 from $33 on May 8, reiterating an Outperform rating on the shares following "a strong quarter" and maintaining a full-year revenue guidance of up 20%. The rating update came after PDF Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDFS) announced financial results for fiscal Q1 2026 on May 7, reporting quarterly total revenues of $60.1 million, up 26% over last year's comparable quarter. It further reported GAAP gross margin of 72% and non-GAAP gross margin of 76%, with GAAP operating margin of 10% and non-GAAP operating margin of 25%. Management also stated that GAAP net income for the quarter was $4.8 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $48 thousand, or $(0.00) per diluted share, for fiscal Q4 of 2025, and net loss of $3.0 million, or $(0.08) per diluted share, for fiscal Q1 2025. PDF Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PDFS) provides an end-to-end analytics platform empowering engineers and data scientists across the semiconductor ecosystem and data analytics for yield enhancement and process-design optimization. Its products, platforms, and services include proprietary software, electrical measurement hardware tools, physical intellectual property for integrated circuit designs, proven methodologies, and professional services. Page 1 of 5 Related Insider Monkey Articles

Seeking Alpha
May 13th, 2026
PDF Solutions launches 3.8M share public offering with Advantest selling stake

PDF Solutions has launched an underwritten public offering of approximately 3.81 million shares of common stock. The offering includes 3.31 million shares from selling shareholder Advantest America and 500,000 shares from the company itself. The underwriters have been granted a 30-day option on the offering.

Yahoo Finance
May 8th, 2026
Former AlTi Global CEO eyes buyout as US growth stocks with high insider ownership surge

The United States market has climbed 3.2% in the past week and 31% over the year, with earnings expected to grow 16% annually. Growth companies with high insider ownership are attracting attention as they signal strong confidence from company insiders. AlTi Global, a wealth and asset management firm with a market capitalisation of $566.53 million, is seeing significant insider interest. Former CEO Michael Tiedemann holds a 9.8% stake and is exploring a buyout. Revenue rose to $254.96 million in 2025 from $198.39 million in 2024, with earnings forecast to grow over 130% annually, substantially outpacing the broader market's expected 11.4% growth. PDF Solutions, offering software and intellectual property for integrated circuit designs, has a market cap of $1.92 billion, generating $219.02 million in revenue.