DFT ATPG Engineer, AI Hardware

What to Expect

The Tesla AI Hardware team is at the forefront of revolutionizing artificial intelligence through cutting-edge hardware innovation. Comprising brilliant engineers and visionaries, the team designs and develops advanced AI inference chips tailored to accelerate Tesla’s machine learning capabilities. A key part of this effort is Dojo, Tesla's custom supercomputer system built to efficiently train massive neural networks on vast video data from the fleet. The work of Tesla's AI Hardware team powers the neural networks behind Full Self-Driving (FSD), and Tesla humanoid robot, Optimus, pushing the boundaries of computational efficiency and performance. By creating custom silicon and optimized architectures, the team ensures Tesla remains a leader in AI-driven automotive and energy solutions, shaping a future where intelligent machines enhance human life.

Tesla's AI hardware team is seeking a highly motivated ASIC RTL Design Engineer with a specialization in the mathematical and computational aspects of custom AI accelerators. You will focus on designing high-performance, power-efficient RTL for math-intensive components that power our AI training and inference systems. This role emphasizes expertise in tensor operations, matrix computations, and optimized data paths for advanced AI workloads. This role is located in Palo Alto, CA or Austin, TX. If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of low-precision arithmetic, quantization techniques, and hardware acceleration for machine learning, this is your opportunity to contribute to revolutionary AI hardware.

Our Silicon Engineering team delivers silicon that meets production quality targets from first tapeout. As a Staff DFT ATPG Engineer, you will own pattern generation, ATE test program development, and DFT timing closure — from pre-Si ATPG through OSAT deployment — ensuring structural test quality and production efficiency at scale.

What You'll Do

• Generate production-quality ATPG patterns using Tessent for stuck-at, transition delay, path delay, cell-aware, and small delay defect (SDD) fault models
• Achieve and exceed coverage targets (>99% stuck-at, >98% transition) while minimizing pattern count for ATE test time
• Debug low coverage areas — X-state sources, blocking logic, untestable faults, and ATPG abort conditions
• Understanding and familiarity of hybrid bonding test concepts
• Perform gate-level pattern simulation to validate pattern integrity
• Support hierarchical and flat ATPG methodologies for multi-million gate SoC designs
• Architect and develop comprehensive ATE test programs covering ATPG, MBIST, Repair, Functional, DC, and HSIO
• Own NPI silicon bring-up for structural tests — debug and root cause failures to closure
• Deploy and optimize test programs at OSATs for yield, quality, reliability, and cost
• Develop custom test methods for product-specific requirements and contribute to wafer probe and final test hardware design

What You'll Bring

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years across ATPG, ATE test development, and DFT timing
• Expert-level Tessent proficiency — TestKompress and MemoryBIST
• Deep knowledge of fault models: stuck-at, transition, path delay, cell-aware, and SDD
• ATE test program development and OSAT deployment experience
• SDC constraint development for DFT test modes; timing closure using Tempus
• Ability to use agentic AI flows to automate ATPG and ATE test workflows

Compensation and Benefits

Benefits

Along with competitive pay, as a full-time Tesla employee, you are eligible for the following benefits at day 1 of hire:

• Medical plans > plan options with $0 payroll deduction
• Family-building, fertility, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Dental (including orthodontic coverage) and vision plans, both have options with a $0 paycheck contribution
• Company Paid (Health Savings Accounts) HSA Contribution when enrolled in the High-Deductible medical plan with HSA
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) with employer match, Employee Stock Purchase Plans, and other financial benefits
• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance (90 day waiting period)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Sick and Vacation time (Flex time for salary positions, Accrued hours for Hourly positions), and Paid Holidays
• Back-up childcare and parenting support resources
• Voluntary benefits to include: critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, theft & legal services, and pet insurance
• Weight Loss and Tobacco Cessation Programs
• Tesla Babies program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee discounts and perks program

Expected Compensation

$128,000 - $312,000/annual salary + cash and stock awards + benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Tesla is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Tesla is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.