Memory Characterization Engineer

Project

Work done for a product or program.

• Plan and execute first-silicon characterisation campaigns covering voltage, temperature, frequency and refresh-rate shmoo across multiple wafer lots.
• Measure DRAM retention time distributions and identify weak-bit and variable-retention-time populations across temperature corners.
• Capture NAND threshold voltage distributions, program/erase cycling shifts and read-window budget as a function of cycling and retention bake.
• Characterise DDR and LPDDR interface timing — setup/hold windows, eye diagrams, DQ-DQS skew and training convergence — on bench and ATE.
• Build automated characterisation test benches and data pipelines that sweep parameters and post-process into margin plots.
• Correlate bench results with simulation predictions and escalate discrepancies to circuit, device and process owners with quantified evidence.
• Characterise power states and current consumption across IDD states and validate against datasheet commitments.
• Provide characterisation-based inputs to datasheet parameter setting, guardband definition and test program limit setting.
• Investigate specific customer or qualification failures on the bench and reproduce marginal conditions with controlled stimulus.
• Maintain the characterisation lab equipment, calibration records and measurement methodology documentation.

Function

Work that keeps the discipline running: methods, tools, suppliers and people.

• Maintain test standards, test hardware and program libraries.General
• Work with equipment and probe card suppliers on capacity and capability.General
• Improve test methods and data tools for future products.General

Project

1. Produce and hand over the role's key deliverables
   • First-silicon characterisation report with shmoo and margin plots
   • Retention or threshold voltage distribution datasets and analysis
   • Datasheet parameter and guardband recommendations
   • Automated characterisation scripts and measurement benches
   • Silicon-to-simulation correlation reports
   • Failure reproduction and margin-limiting condition reports
2. Develop the test solutionGeneral
   • Define the test plan and coverage targets
   • Write and debug the test program
   • Design or specify the test hardware
3. Release to productionGeneral
   • Correlate results across testers and sites
   • Optimise test time
   • Release the program under change control

Function

1. Maintain test infrastructureGeneral
   • Keep program libraries and standards current
   • Plan tester and hardware capacity
2. Improve methodsGeneral
   • Review escapes and adjust coverage
   • Develop data analysis tools