Staff/Principal Engineer, NAND TD, RDA

Job / Role Summary

The Staff Engineer owns defined Realtime Defect Analysis (RDA) scope within NAND Technology Development, developing and sustaining advanced defect detection and inspection strategies that accelerate learning, improve yield, and support technology transfer to manufacturing. This role leads defect analysis, inspection recipe and sampling optimization, excursion containment, and cross-functional issue resolution. The position collaborates with Process Integration, Yield, Data Science, Global Manufacturing, and equipment suppliers to strengthen process monitoring, standardize Best Known Methods, and align inspection capability with future NAND technology nodes.

Main Responsibilities

• Own the site-level RDA strategy and annual roadmap aligned with NAND Technology Development nodes.

• Lead analysis of experimental and production flows to detect, classify, and trend systematic and random defects.

• Establish, track, and report program health metrics, including baseline health, detection rates, false positives, and mean time to resolution.

• Lead rapid containment for defect excursions by initiating tool quarantine actions, defining hold criteria, and driving 8D corrective actions.

• Develop inspection recipes and sampling strategies that balance sensitivity, throughput, and cost of ownership.

• Partner with Process Integration, Yield, and Data Science teams to correlate inspection signals with device performance and yield.

• Evaluate and qualify next-generation optical and e-beam inspection capabilities and support supplier roadmap alignment.

Other Responsibilities

• Standardize and share Best Known Methods across global Technology Development and manufacturing sites.

• Mentor and coach engineers to strengthen technical capability within the RDA domain.

• Drive safety, continuous improvement, and lean initiatives that improve cycle time and learning velocity.

• Communicate inspection strategy, program health, risks, and technical recommendations to engineering and leadership stakeholders.

AI Responsibilities

• Integrates AI-assisted tools and insights into daily work to improve efficiency, quality, or effectiveness, exercising sound judgment and complying with organizational standards and legal requirements.

• Contributes to a culture of continuous improvement by identifying, testing, and sharing AI-enabled enhancements within one’s scope of work.

Candidate Profile

Minimum Qualifications / Experience

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 7 years, or Master’s degree or PhD with at least 5 years, of relevant semiconductor experience in an engineering or related technical field.

• At least 3 years of hands-on Realtime Defect Analysis experience in semiconductor manufacturing or equipment engineering.

• Demonstrated experience in defect inspection, process monitoring, and yield learning.

Must-Have Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Realtime Defect Analysis systems and workflows, including defect detection, classification, trending, and monitoring.

• Experience with optical and e-beam inspection technologies, inspection recipe development, and sampling optimization.

• Strong statistical data analysis, correlation development, and large dataset interpretation capability.

• Working knowledge of semiconductor process integration, technology development, and yield learning.

• Proficiency in structured root-cause analysis and corrective action methods, including 8D or DMAIC.

Must-Have Soft Skills

• Technical leadership and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.

• Mentoring and coaching capability that strengthens engineering skill depth.

• Clear and concise communication across technical and leadership audiences.

• Ownership-driven execution and structured decision-making in ambiguous technical situations.

Highly Desirable / Preferred

• Experience supporting technology transfer from NAND Technology Development to manufacturing.

• Experience engaging inspection or metrology equipment suppliers on capability evaluation and qualification.

Embody Micron’s Core Values

• People - Respect, develop and empower others

• Innovation - Drive continuous improvement and breakthrough thinking

• Tenacity - Show grit and determination

• Collaboration - Build trust and foster teamwork

• Customer Focus - Deliver excellence and value

• Speed - Act with purpose and set the pace