Failure Analysis Engineer/MTS

Covalent is a modern analytical services and engineering consulting company based in the San Francisco Bay Area (Sunnyvale). Our mission is to accelerate materials science innovation by serving as a problem-solving partner for technology leaders of all sizes and providing access to outstanding data generated quickly and cost-effectively.

• Covalent provides cutting-edge tools and expertise to equip our customers with the high-quality experimental data and insights they need to achieve their goals.

**Role Overview**

We are seeking a hands-on **Member of Technical Staff (MTS) – Failure Analysis Engineer** to join the Failure Analysis (FA) team.

This role combines experimental work, instrumentation, data interpretation, and engineering problem solving. The successful candidate will investigate failures using multiple analytical techniques, develop evidence-based failure hypotheses, and communicate technically defensible conclusions.

Experience with **lock-in thermography, thermal measurements, or related signal/data acquisition and interpretation techniques** is particularly valuable.

As the individual develops in the role, they will take increasing ownership of customer interactions, including technical scoping, defining appropriate analysis strategies, and discussing results.

**Key Responsibilities**

• Perform hands-on failure analysis of electronic, semiconductor, and/or advanced technology devices and assemblies.
• Plan investigations by selecting appropriate analytical techniques and sequencing destructive and non-destructive methods.
• Perform and develop expertise in:
• X-ray imaging and X-ray CT
• SEM and EDS
• Cross-sectioning, polishing, and sample preparation
• Optical microscopy
• Thermal and electrical localization techniques
• Lock-in thermography, where applicable
• Acquire, process, visualize, and interpret experimental data.
• Distinguish meaningful signals from artifacts, noise, and measurement limitations.
• Correlate observations across multiple analytical techniques rather than relying on a single measurement.
• Develop hypotheses for failure mechanisms and design experiments to confirm or reject them.
• Maintain clear experimental records and produce technically rigorous FA reports.
• Learn new FA techniques and instrumentation as the team’s capabilities expand.
• Work safely and independently in a laboratory environment

**Data Acquisition & Thermal Measurement Focus **

The ideal candidate has experience in one or more of the following:

• Lock-in thermography or other modulated thermal measurement techniques
• Infrared imaging and thermography
• Signal processing, including filtering, averaging, phase/amplitude analysis, and signal-to-noise optimization
• Synchronous or lock-in detection
• Experimental data acquisition and instrumentation
• Understanding measurement uncertainty, resolution, sensitivity, calibration, and experimental artifacts
• Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, or similar tools for data processing, visualization, or instrument control
• Direct lock-in thermography experience is desirable but strong experimental measurement and signal-analysis fundamentals can substitute for specific tool experience.

**Customer & Technical Leadership Growth **

With increasing experience, the MTS will:

• Interact directly with customers to understand technical problems and failure symptoms.
• Translate customer questions into effective FA strategies and scopes of work.
• Explain analytical capabilities, limitations, and tradeoffs.
• Present and discuss results with customers.
• Defend technical interpretations while clearly distinguishing observations, hypotheses, and conclusions.
• Recommend follow-up analysis when the available evidence does not support a definitive conclusion.

**Qualifications**

• BS, MS, or PhD in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Strong experimental and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work hands-on with laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Ability to interpret complex datasets and connect measurements to physical mechanisms.
• Strong technical documentation and communication skills.
• Curiosity and willingness to develop proficiency across a broad range of FA techniques.

**Preferred Experience**

Experience with several of the following is advantageous:

• Semiconductor or electronics failure analysis
• Lock-in thermography / IR thermography
• X-ray CT
• SEM/EDS
• Metallographic preparation and cross-sectioning
• Optical microscopy
• Electrical fault localization
• Signal processing or scientific data analysis
• Automated data acquisition or instrument control
• Root-cause analysis and structured experimental design
• Customer-facing technical work