Intern

About the Role

As a PFA Engineer Intern on the Yield Enhancement (YE) team, you will support physical failure analysis investigations of defect issues. You will learn to isolate, expose, and image physical defects in advanced memory devices, analyze results to find the root cause, and present findings to engineering partners. This is a 3-month, full-time internship on a day shift (Monday–Friday).

Key Responsibilities

• Physical Failure Analysis and Investigation:
• Perform PFA sample preparation and analysis (e.g., deprocessing/delayering, cross-sectioning, FIB, SEM/TEM imaging) according to area skill guidelines.
• Review EFA results, fault isolation data, and probe/yield data to target physical analysis.
• Identify and categorize physical defect signatures using defect references, and help characterize new defect types.
• Perform data analysis to support PFA results in pursuit of root cause.
• Summarize findings in clear, concise reports (images, defect location, likely root cause) and communicate them to part owners and YE/Fab engineers.
• Lab Equipment Operation:
• Learn to operate PFA lab equipment safely and efficiently, following safety and contamination-control guidelines.
• Understand equipment functionality and support basic troubleshooting.
• Internship Project and Continuous Improvement:
• Own a focused, short-term project fitting a 3-month timeline and present the outcome to the team and leadership.
• Complete all required safety and equipment training certifications.
• Build technical knowledge of device structure, process flow, and failure mechanisms.
• Suggest improvements for the department and participate in team projects.
• AI-Enabled Analysis and Productivity:
• Use approved AI and digital productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) for data analysis, image/report generation, knowledge retrieval, and problem-solving.
• Utilize AI tools to speed up documentation, communication, and investigation workflows while maintaining data accuracy and applying engineering judgment.
• Use AI technologies responsibly, following company policies, data protection, and intellectual property safeguards.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• PFA sample preparation and analysis (e.g., deprocessing/delayering, cross-sectioning, FIB, SEM/TEM imaging)
• EFA results, fault isolation data, probe/yield data
• PFA lab equipment
• AI and digital productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot)
• Excel, JMP, Python (preferred)

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Physics, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Basic understanding of semiconductor devices and fabrication processes.
• Hands-on lab experience is a plus (e.g., microscopy, SEM/FIB, sample preparation, cleanroom).
• Strong attention to detail and good analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication; able to summarize technical results simply.
• Previous internships or research projects in semiconductor or failure analysis are preferred.