Keneth Paul S.

From studying mixed signal circuits to working as Product Engineer

This is my first job since leaving University. In my bachelor., worked on semiconductor process engineering/characterization. For my master's I worked on CMOS circuit Design(mixed signal Silicon On Chip (SOC) design). It is a dilemma to get a good fit for those two experiences and I found that in Product engineering. Product Engineering gives a unique perspective on how the whole business comes together from design through manufacturing to when the product is shipped out. My experience as a product engineer has given me understanding of backend manufacturing in relation to test costs and quality. The position of a product engineer involves coordination with other teams to solve scheduling and quality issues. In this position I have had the singular privilege of debugging silicon with design engineers from where I contributed to design quality.

Design for Test; Simply put; not testable, not usable.

Propagating/Designing/Aligning testing methodologies/strategies so that new circuit Architectures are appropriately tested. This is very pivotal to high quality parts being sampled to Customers on time. Through data/program actual silicon debug silicon alongside test engineers to verify equivalent coverage for all DRAM portfolios. In this position understanding architecture difference between DRAM portfolios is key. Micron has mainly three different market porfolios, graphics,Compute and Low power DRAM. Therefore, one of the core roles of my position is to make sure that the tests are properly implemented. This role also propagates learnings in yield, test-time which also relates to test-cost. And the decisions in this role are driven by mainly production data analysis and electrical fail analysis. Finally, this position involves working closely with Quality teams to estimate potential risks to the customer. DFT position is unique because it gives one the opportunity to understand circuit operation and how to test those circuits, imagine fail mode and propose testing circuits to design.

I like the imagination involved in creating the tests

This is the center piece of product engineering. If something can not be tested then it can not be produced. And if it can not be produced then it can not be used. Design for Test requires a lot of imagination. Unlike designers that are limited to simulation environments we have have both simulation and actual testing opportunities. And therefore DFT Engineer gets to understand actual operation of the device in silicon with clarity. DFT Engineers have understanding of production and the implication of designs in production. As DFT I have had chances to work with design teams on the conceptualization of architectures. In such cases I was bringing the production and backend manufacturing to bear in the meeting something that was very interesting to be apart of.

Expand your imagination and be curious.

For new graduates many fields of engineering are new concepts. For example Design for test can never be conceived in a graduates mind. Before joining design for test my thinking was restricted to only traditional design. This is in all accounts great to be a designer that you concentrate on the deeper circuit concepts. However unlike design limited to only a few circuits where one becomes a professional, in Design for test you get to experience how the whole design comes together. This gives a design for test engineer an edge in understanding design implications to things like yield, testability cost. Especially the cost of testing is the back-bone of production in pursuit of quality and affordability. But DFT sits at the sweet spot that enables an engineer to enjoy the best of both worlds of actual design and production. As an entrant, one would be looking for those positions where they can learn the most from to build their career. And DFT can be one of those positions.

I feel most proud of debugs that have led to actual circuit edits.

At least in nearly almost all the designs i have worked on I have had the unique privilege of seeing actual edits implemented because of analyses I have participated in. There is nothing as fulfilling like to know that somehow you are contributing to the safety of the customer using the products in the market. The highlight of this was when the issue extend over an entire generation of products.