Silicon Characterization and Validation Engineer

Current openings

Silicon Characterization and Validation Engineer

About the job

About Blumind

Blumind is a deep-tech startup at the forefront of the AI revolution. We are building a new class of semiconductor devices which are ultra-low-power analog AI processors (AMPL™) designed for Physical AI systems. Our technology enables complex AI, from "always-on" keyword spotting to advanced vision and language models, to run on a small fraction of the power of traditional digital chips. We are on a mission to make high-performance, on-device AI ubiquitous, from wearables and smart home devices to automotive and industrial IoT.

Role Overview: The Technical Challenge

We are seeking a hands-on Silicon Characterization & Validation Engineer to join our Silicon Engineering team, supporting the bring-up, characterization, validation, and debug of mixed-signal integrated circuits. This is a hands-on, laboratory-based role for an engineer who enjoys working directly with silicon, precision instrumentation, and custom test hardware to take new devices from first silicon through production-ready qualification. Your work will directly influence design decisions and help bring innovative ultra-low-power AI processors from prototypes to production.

Key Responsibilities

● Silicon Bring Up: Perform hands-on silicon bring-up, characterization, and validation of mixed-signal ICs on the lab bench, from first power-on through comprehensive electrical characterization.

● Circuit Characterization: Develop and execute characterization plans covering device, block-level, and system-level performance across voltage, temperature, and process corners, ensuring complete validation against design specifications. Characterize precision ultra-low power analog and mixed-signal circuit performance including DC/AC parameters, gain, offset, linearity, noise, bandwidth, timing, power consumption, dynamic performance, and functional operation over the specified operating range.

● Transistor Characterization: MOSFET characterization to inform optimum product performance and reliability.

● Automation: Develop and automate characterization software using Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools to control laboratory instrumentation, acquire measurement data, perform analysis, and generate characterization reports.

● Operations: Document laboratory procedures, test methodologies, measurement results, and engineering findings to support design reviews, qualification, and product release.

● Test Infrastructure: Design, build, and maintain laboratory test setups and fixtures, including custom PCBs, sockets, interconnects, ECOs and evaluation hardware for silicon characterization.

● Test Equipment: Operate and configure precision laboratory instrumentation including oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, source measure units (SMUs), arbitrary waveform generators, precision DC power supplies, digital multimeters (DMMs), LCR meters, and data acquisition systems. Ensure laboratory equipment is calibrated, maintained, and operated safely while following established laboratory best practices.

● Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with analog design, digital design, process, modeling, product, and test engineering teams to investigate silicon anomalies, validate design changes, and support technology and product development.

● ATE Support: Correlate bench characterization data with automated test equipment (ATE) measurements to improve production test coverage, guard-banding, and yield analysis.

● Technical Leadership: Lead characterization activities for new silicon revisions, define validation strategies, mentor junior engineers, and continuously improve laboratory methodologies and automation.

Required Qualifications

● Education: BS or MS in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Engineering Physics, Semiconductor Engineering, or a related discipline.

● Experience: 5+ years of experience in a lab environment characterizing, validating, or debugging analog or mixed-signal ICs.

● Circuit Knowledge : Solid understanding of analog and mixed-signal circuit fundamentals (amplifiers, ADCs/DACs, references, PLLs, power management, or similar).

● Equipment: Practical experience with lab instrumentation: oscilloscopes, spectrum/network analyzers, precision power supplies, DMMs, SMUS, and data acquisition hardware.

● Technical Skills: Comfortable reading schematics, datasheets, and design specifications, and translating them into test plans and bench setups.

● Software: Proficiency in at least one scripting/automation language (Python, MATLAB, or LabVIEW) for test automation and data analysis.

● Organization Skills: Excellent attention to detail and rigorous documentation habits.

● Teamwork: Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with design, test, and product teams.

Preferred Qualifications

● Experience with PCB design or layout tools for building test fixtures and interposers.

● Familiarity with ATE platforms and correlating bench data to production test results.

● Exposure to statistical analysis of characterization data (yield, process variation, corner analysis).

● Experience with high-speed digital interfaces, power electronics, or RF characterization.

● Prior work in a semiconductor startup or fast-paced silicon bring-up environment.

● Experience correlating silicon measurements with SPICE simulations and design models is considered an asset.

● Familiarity with CMOS device physics and semiconductor process technologies.

● Bachelor's Degree and 5+ years of Semiconductor Manufacturing experience

Location

● On-site in Toronto (Markham). Candidates willing to relocate will also be considered

Apply Here

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only candidates being considered for the role will be contacted.